2 students, prof of Berhampur varsity held in two cases

Berhampur: Police on Thursday arrested a professor and two postgraduate students of Berhampur University in two different cases, registered in Ganjam district’s Gopalpur police station.
“Sadananda Nayak, 55, a professor of Odia, was arrested for allegedly trying to outrage the modesty of a 23-year-old girl student of his department at his Bhanja Bihar quarter last year. In another case, two journalism and mass communication department students — Dinesh Padhi and Hrusikesh Bodtia — were arrested for allegedly attacking Nayak on Wednesday evening, seeking PhD seats,” said Berhampur SP Sarban Vivek M.
Nayak was alone in his quarter when the students forcibly entered his house and attacked him with an iron rod on Wednesday, the police said.
The students also allegedly hurled abuses at him. The professor also alleged that the students were drunk and threatened to kill him. Nayak was reportedly rescued by his neighbours.
The victim student, on the other hand, alleged that the professor had invited her to his quarter on May 21, 2021, over some clarifications, and he allegedly tried to outrage her modesty. “We have registered two separate cases. Further investigations in both the cases are on,” said the SP added.
Meanwhile, the university authorities have decided to take strong action against the students.
“We have temporarily suspended them till further order. We will also serve a show cause notice to the accused students as per the decision of the disciplinary committee,” said the university’s vice-chancellor Geetanjali Das.
All department heads and hostel superintendents attended the disciplinary committee meeting.