A delegation from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) led by it’s National Secretary Budhadeb Bagh and State Secretary Arijeet Patnaik met with the Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania to press for action against the perpetrators of hooliganism and violent attacks at Ravenshaw University. The ABVP urged the police to immediately arrest the main accused, Ekram Khan alias Boby Khan, in connection with the incidents.
On September 4, at 6:35 pm, activists from a political party, without the Vice Chancellor’s permission, organized a torchlight procession at Odisha’s oldest educational institution, disrupting the campus atmosphere. The power supply was cut off during the procession, plunging the entire Ravenshaw University campus into darkness for over 3 hours, causing inconvenience to hundreds of students, teachers, and staff, according to ABVP activists.
When ABVP activists, led by Shyam Sundar Sahu, inquired about the power outage with campus staff, they were confronted by Ekram Khan (Babi Khan), Byomkesh Ray (BJD MLA), Lenin Mahanthy (BJD spokesperson), and their associates. The ABVP members, including Shyam Sundar Sahu, were brutally attacked and abused. A written complaint was filed by Sahu at Malgodam police station on September 4, 2024, which remains pending.
Main accused Ekram Khan, escalated his intimidation tactics. On September 5, he and his associates forcibly detained Shyam Sundar Sahu while he was out on personal errands, attempting to kidnap him. However, they released Sahu when they heard the approaching police PCR siren. During this incident, the accused, who were armed, threatened Sahu to withdraw his complaint filed at Malgodown police station, warning him of severe consequences, including campus violence and murder. Furthermore, Ekram Khan has been making menacing phone calls to other students, demanding that the case against him be withdrawn or face serious repercussions.
Vidhyarthi Parishad delegation submitted memorandum to the Director General of Police, urging prompt and stringent action in the case. They demanded the immediate arrest of the main accused, Ekram Khan (alias Babi Khan), and called for a complete ban on non-students entering the Ravenshaw University campus. Additionally, they sought action against individuals attempting to disrupt the campus, ensuring a safe and secure environment for students.
It may be noted that Malgodown police in Cuttack had registered a case against BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, BJD students’ wing leader Bobby Khan and others based on a complaint of Shyama Sundar Sahoo, a research student of the varsity in connection with the clash which broke out outside the Ravenshaw University gate in Cuttack Wednesday between students and ex-students protesting over the proposed renaming of the institution.
The case has been registered under Section 25 and 27 of Arms Act and Section 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt to others), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 296 (obscene acts), 3(5) (common intention), 351 (3) (threatening to cause injury) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
