Sonepur: Tension prevailed at the Government Polytechnic in Sonepur after girl students staged a protest, alleging poor food quality and unauthorised entry of male staff into their hostel.

According to reports, first and second-year students sat on a dharna near the main gate of the institution, raising slogans against the authorities. The protest took place under the scorching sun, during which one student reportedly fell ill.

The situation escalated after parents of the students reached the campus and joined the agitation from outside the gate.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anjali Behera arrived at the spot and held discussions with both the students and the college authorities in an attempt to defuse the situation.

Students alleged that hostel food was unhygienic, claiming that insects were found in the dal and curry served to them. Another major allegation concerns the absence of a female warden.

They claimed that the existing warden had been removed, and no replacement had been appointed. In this situation, they alleged, the principal entered the hostel at night along with male staff members and conducted inspections.

The students further accused the staff of forcibly checking their belongings and pulling out personal items from their bags, which they described as a violation of privacy.

Police personnel have been deployed on campus to avoid any untoward incident.