Ravenshaw Scuffle: BJD Calls FIR Against 3 Of Its Leaders ‘Selective Targeting & Unfair’

Bhubaneswar: The BJD has come out in defence of its three leaders booked for the alleged clash between two groups during a torch rally organised by students to protest against the idea of renaming of Ravenshaw University in Odisha’s Cuttack city.

The FIR has been registered against Chandabali MLA Byomakesh Ray and two other BJD leaders – —Lenin Mohanty and Akram Khan alias Bobby— on the basis of a complaint lodged by Shyama Sundar Sahoo, a research scholar of Statistics department at Ravenshaw University, with Malgodown police.

“The BJD vehemently condemns the false and unfounded FIR that have been levied against our party leaders Byomkesh Ray, MLA, Dr Lenin Mohanty, and Akram Khan ( Bobby Khan) a student leader in connection with the recent protests at Ravenshaw University. On September 4, 2024, a peaceful protest march was organised by alumni and former students of Ravenshaw University. The march was a democratic exercise aimed at voicing concerns over a controversial statement made by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding the renaming of the institution. This demonstration, which included participation from over 200 alumni and former students across various political affiliations, was conducted in a non-violent and orderly manner.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the Cuttack Commissionerate Police has unjustly targeted BJD leaders with allegations that appear to be both misleading and politically motivated. The BJD asserts that this action is a diversion from the central issue and is intended to malign the reputation of our party and its leaders unfairly,” the party said in a release.

It asserted that there was no such confrontation; all alumni and former students were outside the campus, and the entire protest was conducted peacefully. “The selective targeting of BJD leaders amidst this situation suggests a concerning bias and undermines the impartiality of the law enforcement actions taken. The BJD staunchly supports the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, principles that are fundamental to our democracy,” it added.

Hundreds of students and alumni took out a rally under the banner of Save Ravenshaw Legacy Forum from Ranihaat Square to College Square on Wednesday evening evening to oppose any move to rename the 156-year-old university.  The protest followed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s suggestion on August 31 to change the university’s colonial-era name.

However, a scuffle ensued between two groups near the main gate of the university during the rally.

Also Read: Scuffle Ensues During Ravenshaw Students’ Rally In Cuttack Against Change In Name Proposal

According to the complaint, some outsiders attacked Sahoo while he and a few of his friends were discussing certain issues near the main gate of the varsity that evening.  The outsiders allegedly hurled abuses at Sahoo and his friends and even threatened to kill them with a gun. The student claimed that the outsiders were being led by the three BJD leaders, including Ray.

Amid the tense situation, the Registrar of Ravenshaw University had written to Cuttack DCP, seeking urgent police deployment to ensure the “safety” of students, staff, and families on the varsity campus.

While the state BJP has extended support to Dharmendra’s proposal saying the institute should be named after an eminent Odia, the Congress and BJD state unit leaders have been strongly opposing the name change proposal and have also threatened statewide agitation if the saffron party continues to pursue the name change “agenda.”

Also Read: BJP’s Latest Odia Asmita Agenda: Know The Source Of ‘Rename Ravenshaw’ Debate As Politics Heats Up