HPU campus still tense

The Himachal Pradesh University campus was on the boil again on Thursday with groups of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) scuffling with each other. A major clash was prevented as the police rounded up many students on the basis of suspicion as they were carrying sharp weapons.

A physical education lecturer and former state vice-president of the ABVP,Sanjay Kumar,received injuries when he was passing by the spot of clash. The attack has been condemned by the teachers’ community and an FIR for criminal assault has been registered by the police,in which Sanjay has named five SFI members.

Shimla Superintendent of Police R M Sharma said: “Fifteen students of ABVP and 42 of SFI,seven of them women,have been arrested for violence on the campus on Wednesday and today. They had clashed on Tuesday,too. Iron rods and knives were also recovered from them. On the complaint of Sanjay Kumar,five SFI members have been booked for assault and threatening. On the complaint of the vice-chancellor,a case of illegal trespass has been registered against Naresh Narwal and Munish Sharma,who were expelled under disciplinary action.”

Police have been deployed on the campus to maintain calm.