Rayagada, Oct 31: Tension flared up at Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Institute of Technology (UGMIT) in Odisha’s Rayagada on Friday after a girl student alleged misbehavior by a lecturer on campus.

A group of students staged a protest in front of the government-run polytechnic by locking the main gate of the institute and restricting the staff members from entering.

After getting the information, police officials including Rayagada SDPO Gourahari Sahoo and IIC Prasanna Kumar Behera arrived at the spot and attempted to pacify the agitating students.

Despite assurances, the students continued their sit-in and demanded swift action against the accused and justice for the complainant.

According to sources, a Mathematics lecturer of the institute Pradeep Tripathy allegedly misbehaved with a first-year female student following which she lodged a written complaint with the Principal on October 25.

However, the agitating students alleged that despite an internal committee inquiry, no action has been taken so far. They also added that Pradeep had earlier been accused of similar misconduct in the past and no strict actions were taken.