OHRC Issues Notice To Odisha Govt On Vani Vihar Violence

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has issued a notice to the state government on the violence during a seminar in Utkal University campus at Bhubaneswar.

The OHRC issued the notice on the basis of a petition filed by human rights activist Biswapriya Kanoongo. The complainant cited violence and criminal intimidation of JNU professor Surajit Majumdar, Prof Surendra Jena and the organisers during the seminar on February 12. The Commission has asked the government to file an action report on the matter.

As per the complaint, some members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) created a ruckus opposing Prof Surajit Mazumdar who was delivering a lecture at the seminar on ‘Indian Constitution and Education Policy’ organised by Citizens’ Forum at PG Council Hall. They allegedly attacked students and intellectuals who had assembled during the seminar, causing injuries to two persons.

Later, both ABVP and the seminar organisers had filed complaints with police. Two former students of the university were arrested for their alleged involvement in the incident.