Campus clashes: PU authorities ask students to vacate hostels

Patna,(BiharTimes): The Patna University authorities have asked the students of five of its hostels to vacate their rooms by September 23 following clashes between two group on Saturday morning.

However, students on Sunday said that they have been given too little time to vacate the hostels and added that the University authorities are complicating the matter instead of solving it.

It needs to be recalled that the Patna College authorities on Saturday lodged an FIR in the Pirbahore police station against two students of the college for allegedly indulging in violence on the college campus.

It all started after a heated exchange in the classroom between Nishikant and Abid Raza of Bachelor in Mass Communication––which runs under the Hindi department––over seating arrangement. The teacher turned both of them out of the class. While Nishikant has his room in Minto Hostel, Abid lives in Iqbal Hostel.

They both reportedly called their hostel inmates and soon the campus turned into a battleground with students of Minto, Nutan, Jackson and Iqbal Hostels getting involved. Both the groups indulged in brickbatting and even a few powerful crackers were exploded.

Some reports said that an attempt was made to give it a communal colour, but the authorities acted swiftly and sought the police support.

Five students were injured in the violence while 11 others were detained following raids by police. The college authorities had to suspend classes after the incident.

According to Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj though the College had a police outpost, reinforcement was sent to the spot immediately after the clash began. The FIR has named Nishikant and Abid as the accused, the SSP said and added they would be arrested soon.

Patna College Principal Rash Bihari Prasad Singh said this is for the first time the authorities have lodged an FIR against students as they are spoiling the academic atmosphere. He said the college administration remained lenient earlier keeping in view the future of the students.

He said he had written to the Patna SSP to seek personal security guards in view of the violent situation on the campus.