Seven students expelled from Odisha engineering college for cooking beef in hostel: Report

New Delhi: In a recent controversy at Parala Maharaja Engineering College in Berhampur, Odisha, seven students have been expelled from their hostel for allegedly cooking beef. This incident has escalated tensions at the college, prompting the deployment of additional police personnel to maintain order.

Reason for expulsions revealed

The college's Dean of Students' Welfare announced the expulsions on Thursday, citing the students’ involvement in "restricted activities" that violated the hostel’s rules and code of conduct, according to The Indian Express. Although the specific details of these restricted activities were not disclosed, reports indicate that one of the expelled students was fined ₹2,000.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night when the students cooked beef in the hostel. The act was subsequently reported to the dean by other hostel residents.

Demand for action against students

The complaint filed by a group of boarders highlighted the disturbance caused by the beef cooking incident. It read, “As a diverse environment, we recognize the need to respect the values and beliefs of all students. This incident has caused unrest and discomfort, resulting in a tense atmosphere. I request strict action against those involved.”

In response to the incident, members of Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad visited the college and met with the principal, urging for severe measures against the students.

Amroha school incident highlights similar controversies

Following the complaint, the college authorities conducted an inquiry, which confirmed the involvement of the students in the restricted activities and led to their expulsion.

This situation follows a similar recent case in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha, where a viral video showed a school principal allegedly expelling a seven-year-old student for bringing "non-veg" food (biryani) to school. The principal was criticized for making derogatory remarks when questioned by the student's mother. In response to public outcry, Sudhir Kumar, the sub-divisional magistrate of Amroha, instructed local education officials to investigate the incident.