After National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar witnessed unrest between local and outstation students from different parts of the country fresh clashes broke out between two student groups inside Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in Rajouri district of Jammu region on Monday.
The situation was volatile in the campus as student groups armed with sticks roamed freely wearing masks and targeted each other for several hours. At least half a dozen vehicles were torched/damaged by the student groups before police teams were rushed to the campus to restore order.
The campus was witnessing unrest for past several days following heated arguments between the two group of students over bunking of classes.
The university authorities claimed to have brokered a peace deal between the student groups late Sunday evening. Hostel warden, Proctor and other faculty members facilitated the negotiations between the two groups fearing flare up. As was expected, the situation took an ugly turn after some hostellers were attacked by the local students on Monday morning.
Speaking to The Pioneer Registrar of the University Ataat Hussain said, “the two student groups clashed with each other after a group of local students targeted some Kashmir based hostellers Monday morning”. In retaliation the students from kashmir torched/damaged some of the vehicles parked in the campus. He said it was a minor issue but the student groups were not ready to bend and reconcile.
He said some of the local and kashmiri students have received minor injuries but no one was seriously injured.
He said after the arrival of police teams the student groups were segregated and kashmir based students were sent inside their hostel rooms while local students were counselled by the police officials who rushed to the spot to prevent violent clashes in the evening.
Senior University authorities including Vice Chancellor Prof Javed Musarrat interacted with the student groups separately in the evening and made efforts to pacify them.The police teams led by SSP Rajouri were stationed in the campus to instil sense of security among the student groups.