The 12 students of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), accused of ragging their juniors, have been asked by police to appear the investigating officer (IO) within 14 days to speak in their defence.
"We have issued notices to 12 students yesterday after registering a miscellaneous case based on the complaints lodged by junior students and their guardians," assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Pratap Kumar Swain said.
Swain said the police would be forced to issue warrants, if they did not respond to the notice.
The police registered a case against 12 senior students of the Forestry Department after the first-year students of the college complained about ragging.
They alleged that despite several complaints to the authorities including hostel superintendent as well as the anti-ragging committee, no action was taken.
Meanwhile, the university authorities two days ago rusticated five senior students and took disciplinary action against 10 others.
