Bhubaneswar: Seven students were expelled from a government-run technical institute in Odisha amid allegations of cooking and consuming beef, following pressure from local Hindutva groups. The incident, which took place in the Falguni Hostel at Parala Maharaja Engineering College (PMEC) in Berhampur, has sparked significant controversy and debate within the community.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the expulsion came after complaints from activists of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who claimed the students violated cultural norms by cooking beef in their hostel room. The college administration, led by Principal Professor Chittaranjan Mohanty, reportedly acted quickly on the complaint, although it remains unconfirmed whether the meat consumed was indeed beef.
Local police have initiated a preliminary inquiry but have not yet confirmed the nature of the meat or the validity of the accusations. The expulsions have led to widespread confusion and criticism from Berhampur residents and intellectuals, questioning the haste and pressure under which the college authorities acted.
Dr. Siba Prasad Das, a noted surgeon, and Hrushikesh Rath, a hospitality professional, voiced concerns over the college’s decision-making process, highlighting a lack of definitive evidence before imposing such severe consequences on the students. Political analyst Sabita Mohanty cautioned that such incidents could potentially amplify saffron influence in the region, urging educational institutions to adhere to evidence-based practices and resist yielding to ideological pressures.