Balangir Tense After BCJD Leader’s Arrest; Rajendra University Student Union Polls Cancelled
Balangir: Political tensions escalated in Balangir after the arrest of a BCJD student leader triggered protests by BJD workers and allegations of political interference in campus elections.
The unrest eventually led to the cancellation of the student union elections at Rajendra University.
According to reports, BCJD district president Suman Nand was arrested by police following allegations related to the threat and abduction of an ABVP student leader.
The arrest sparked widespread protests from BJD supporters, who gathered outside the Town Police Station and accused the police of acting under political pressure.
Senior BJD leaders and party workers demanded the withdrawal of what they described as a fabricated case.
They alleged that BCJD activists were being selectively targeted ahead of student union elections and claimed that rival student organisations were attempting to influence the electoral process.
The controversy deepened with a separate case involving Yuva BJD working president Rajendra Hota, who was booked over an alleged assault on a BJYM member. Police reportedly questioned both sides before releasing them.
Reacting to the developments, Balangir MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo criticised the arrest and questioned whether student elections could be conducted in a free and fair manner amid the prevailing atmosphere.
As tensions spilt onto the campus of Rajendra University, concerns over law and order intensified. Following an emergency meeting, the university administration decided to cancel the student union elections.
The decision was communicated through an official notification issued by the registrar.
Police have deployed additional personnel in the area to maintain peace and prevent any escalation. Authorities said the situation remains under close watch.
The incident has reignited debate over the role of politics in student elections, with rival political camps exchanging accusations as the fallout continues across Balangir’s academic and political circles.
