Seven students from Parala Maharaja Engineering College in Berhampur, Odisha, have been expelled from their hostel following allegations that they cooked beef. The incident, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday night, led to heightened tensions and the deployment of additional police personnel at the college.
The college’s dean of students’ welfare issued a notification on Thursday announcing the expulsion, citing the students’ involvement in “restricted activities” that violated the hostel’s “rules and code of conduct.” Details on these restricted activities were not officially disclosed. According to reports, one of the expelled students was also fined ₹2,000.
The controversy arose when another group of boarders reported the beef-cooking incident to the dean. A complaint stated that the incident caused unrest and discomfort among the students, highlighting the need for action against those involved.
Members of Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad visited the college and demanded strict measures against the students. The college conducted an inquiry into the allegations, which confirmed that the students had engaged in prohibited activities, leading to their expulsion.
In a related incident earlier this month, a principal in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, faced backlash after a viral video showed him expelling a seven-year-old student for bringing “non-veg” food (biryani) to school. The principal was also seen making derogatory remarks about the student’s mother. In response to public outcry, Sudhir Kumar, the sub-divisional magistrate of Amroha, has directed the basic shiksha adhikari and district inspector of schools to investigate the matter.
