Two groups of students indulged in heavy stone-pelting and hurled crude bombs at one another, after a clash broke out at Allahabad University during registration for the State’s laptop distribution scheme on Saturday.
Several students and police personnel suffered injuries in the clash, which broke out at noon, and lasted three hours.
P. K. Sahoo, Varsity spokesperson, said the two groups clashed over a personal issue. No arrests have been made and no action has been initiated by the varsity.
The injured students were given immediate medical treatment, with one of them suffering injuries to his head, Mr. Sahoo said.
A large number of students, mostly from first year, had queued up at the counters to get forms for availing themselves of the government’s free laptop scheme for students who have just passed their intermediary examinations.
Akhilesh Gupta, district head of the Samajwadi Party’s student wing, said the inmates of Tara Chand and K. P. Hostels came to blows, after an argument broke out regarding the breach of queue by a student of one of the hostels.
As more inmates hurried to the scene, the violence escalated. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel resorted to lathi-charge and brought the situation under control.
Several window panes at the varsity counters were damaged.
The form submission is now scheduled for Monday.
Describing the situation on the campus as “out of hand,” the Allahabad High Court recently directed the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police to explain the “non-cooperation” on their part, in providing adequate security.
Security personnel had been posted on the campus, after a recent protest by students demanding that rusticated student leaders be reinstated.
