The ongoing agitation by some student associations in Osmania University for jobs triggered clashes between them and their rival group leading to arson on the campus after Wednesday midnight.
Rooms of two student leaders -- Kalyan and Sharat -- belonging to ideologically opposed associations were attacked and set afire in Old PG Hostel. OU police entered the hostels and brought the situation under control using mild force in the early hours even as warring members of the two groups tried to attack one another, pelting stones and carrying sticks.
Protests against regularisation move Led by Nirudyoga Vidyarthi Joint Action Committee, supported by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad owing allegiance to the BJP and National Students Union of India, the student wing of the Congress, the students had been protesting, for the past few weeks, against the Telangana Government's proposal to regularise contract employees working in different departments.
As part of the agitation, activists of NVJAC boycotted classes and decided to close the university library. An argument ensued when a member of the TRSV, connected to the ruling TRS, opposed closure of the library and was allegedly manhandled by some ABVP workers.
Room attacked Later, they pacified one another and left the place. However, around midnight, some TRSV members and activists of a Left wing student association attacked the room of ABVP leader Kalyan in Old PG hostel and set furniture in his room on fire.
In retaliation, angry ABVP activists attacked the room of rival group leader Sharat and burnt some of his articles. As the news of the attack and counter-attack spread, students of different groups assembled at the hostel, trying to attack one another. Police said the situation was under control.