Bhubaneswar: Tension gripped Utkal University in Bhubaneswar after a clash broke out between two groups of students before the 'Why I Stand For' meeting on Wednesday, a day before the scheduled student union elections.

The two groups are backed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), respectively.

According to reports, the tension erupted over the alleged presence of non-students at the event, leading to a confrontation and clash between the rival groups. Furthermore, one group allegedly assaulted a candidate from another group.

Many chairs were broken during the clash, and the meeting couldn't take place as per the schedule due to the incident.

Later, the Police Commissioner and the Bhubaneswar DCP asked the non-students to leave the campus so that the meeting could commence smoothly.