Election violence; students set afire SCS College

Puri, Oct 20 (UNI) Irked over the rejection of nomination papers, irate students today set ablaze computers, physics and chemistry labs, air conditioners and misbehaved with the teaching staff of the Samant Chandra Sekhar College (Deemed University).

College Principal Manidranath Dutta said property worth Rs 20 lakh was gutted in the arson. Fire tenders were pressed into service to extinguish the blaze.

Immediately after the incident, prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC were promulgated in the college campus and the surrounding areas and the Principal declared sine die.

Sources said though the police were present in the campus, they could not intervene as the Principal informed them to take action after much delay.

Police have, mean while, detained five students in connection with the violence.

The college witnessed largescale violence and arson, following rejection of nomination papers of candidates vying for the students union polls.

According to reports, 13 candidates had filed papers to contest the elections and during scrutiny today, ten of them were rejected because of shortage in attendance percentage as required by the Lingdo Commission recommendations.

It was the first such occasion in the history of one of the premiere colleges of the state, when students torched college property and caused extensive damage, besides attacking teachers.

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