CUTTACK: Ravenshaw University vice-chancellor Ishan Patro and over a dozen faculty members of the university were detained for over 12 hours in the campus by a group of students, who were opposing the cancellation of the students’ union election in the varsity.The varsity authorities had cancelled the students’ union election on Monday after students having affiliations to different political parties opposed the indirect pattern of election introduced by the authorities this year. Opposing the cancellation of the election, a group of students gheraoed the vice chancellor’s office on Monday at 5 pm and detained Patro and other staff till 5 am on Tuesday.Though police had tried to rescue Patro and other staff members on Monday night it was of no avail . The police personnel trying to rescue Patro and other staff had heated arguments with the agitating students also. Patro and the faculty members were able to walk out only the students left the vice chancellor's office premises at around 5am on Tuesday.“The inhumane manner in which the agitating students detained us for over 12 hours was not required at all. This type of misbehaviour will not be tolerated at any cost,” said Patro. He said that stringent action will be initiated against the students involved in the episode.“Disciplinary actions will be taken against each of the students involved in the incident,” added Patro. The vice chancellor further said that he will not impose sine die in the varsity due to tension over the students’ election cancellation. “I cannot waste the time of 8000 students for a handful of students, who have a problem with the election, by declaring sine die in the campus. Classes will be held in the varsity till October 12,” said Patro.On the other hand, the agitating students have announced to intensify their agitation. “We will stage a massive protest on Wednesday. The varsity authorities should fulfil our demand of conducting direct students’ union elections in the campus,” said an agitating student.The authorities of Ravenshaw University had introduced indirect students’ union election system wherein students would have selected their class representatives(CR) and the elected CR would then elect a president, vice president and other office bearers of the students’ union. Opposing the system, students staged agitation following which authorities cancelled the elections on Monday.

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