Bhubaneswar: The Odisha capital witnessed tense scenes on Thursday when a group of non-students drove a Mahindra Thar SUV into the premises of Maharishi College of Natural Law around noon, sparking panic among students and faculty.
According to sources, the intruders allegedly engaged in a heated confrontation with the students that quickly turned physical. Following which, agitated students blocked the vehicle inside the campus, preventing the group from leaving, while the college administration swiftly locked the main gates to contain the situation.
Following urgent calls from the campus, a team from Saheed Nagar police station rushed to the spot and took six individuals into custody for questioning on how they gained entry and the precise circumstances surrounding the alleged altercation. CCTV footage are also being examined to identify any additional persons involved.
In the aftermath, security at the college has been ramped up significantly with police deployed at the main entrance, enforcing strict checks and allowing entry only to those with valid student ID cards.
This latest clash has revived memories of a previous violent episode at the same institution in April 2023, when a group of more than 10 youths armed with iron rods and sticks assaulted three Plus II first-year students. That attack was reportedly in retaliation after students objected to lewd remarks directed at female classmates. , the outsider had given a written undertaking that he will not enter the campus. The issue was resolved after the outsiders, in the presence of police, gave a written undertaking to the principal not to repeat such behavior.