Patna,(BiharTimes): Students of Patna College, a premier college of the state capital, chose a different way of celebrating Republic Day. They attacked a group of about 60 students of College of Arts and Crafts, another institute of the Patna University, and brutally thrashed them. They did not even spared the girls.

Not only that a group of Patna College students then sped on their bikes to the College of Arts and Crafts campus, situated in Chhajjubagh locality, some three kilometres west, and smashed and ransacked everything there.

A case has been lodged in Buddha Colony Police Station in this regard. Police is ascertaining the identity of those who indulged in violence.

The irony is that the incident on Patna College campus started around 9:30 AM when girls and boys of College of Arts and Crafts too assembled to attend the flag-hoisting programme. It could not be known as to why where they in Patna College and not their own institute then.

Though it could not be independently verified as to what sparked off such a violence at this occasion of national importance, some girls told mediapersons on the condition of anonymity that it all happened when some Patna College students indulged in eve-teashing and passed lewd remarks. Upon this the boys of the College of Arts and Crafts came to the rescue of their girl college-mates. In the process they were thrashed by the Patna College students, many of whom live in hostels and lodges in the vicinity.
Not only that they then chased the students of College of ?Arts and Crafts. Some where assaulted on Ashok Rajpath while fleeing from the campus.

What is surprising is that the hooligans passed Gandhi Maidan and reached College of Arts and Crafts just after the Republic Day parade by going on in this historic lawn.

Till moments back the whole area around Gandhi Maidan had a fortress-like view because of the presence of the VVIPs, including the governor of the state.

More than violence it was its timing which shocked the citizens of the state. How can a Republic Day function be reduced to ‘goondagardi’ by students of one of the best colleges of Bihar? This was the common refrain.

According to Patna College principal Chandra Bhooshan Srivastava this is a serious incident and gives a clear impression that no one is safe in Patna University. He further said a letter has been written to the Patna senior superintendent of police in this matter.

Students of College of Arts and Crafts told mediapersons that they have been celebrating the 77th foundation day of their institute, but the hoolgans ransacked everything. The stage was destroyed so were many exhibits.

Patna College has a history of producing many scholars, bureaucrats, journalists, judges, sportsmen etc so has the College and Arts and Crafts thrown up several great artists.