Bhubaneswar: Utkal University in Bhubaneswar witnessed high drama on Monday after a group of non-students allegedly created chaos inside the campus, assaulted shopkeepers and attacked a hostel inmate.

According to reports, the incident continued from the afternoon till late at night as four youths, allegedly led by a man identified as Deepak, roamed inside the campus in an intoxicated condition and allegedly harassed students and local shopkeepers. The accused also vandalised shops and threw away goods belonging to vendors.

Students alleged that the youths used abusive language and created panic on the campus premises. The situation escalated at night when the accused allegedly attacked Rashmiranjan, a hostel boarder and a student of the Journalism and Mass Communication department. He reportedly sustained facial injuries in the assault and rushed into the hostel for safety.

Following the incident, hostel inmates gathered and confronted the accused persons. While Deepak managed to flee the spot, students caught hold of two of his associates and allegedly thrashed them before handing them over to police personnel after calling a PCR van.

Tension mounted further after students came out of the campus and staged a road blockade near the university’s main gate, demanding the immediate arrest of the prime accused. Protesters alleged that intoxicated outsiders frequently enter the campus and harass students, while police have failed to take adequate preventive measures.

Cops from Sahid Nagar Police Station reached the spot and held discussions with the agitating students. The blockade was withdrawn after police assured them that efforts were underway to arrest the absconding accused.

Police have detained three accused persons in connection with the incident and launched raids to trace the main accused, Deepak.