Jamshedpur, Nov. 20: Tension gripped Pokhari on NH-33 today following a clash between students of RVS Engineering College and local residents over ragging.

Deputy superintendent of police (DSP), East Singhbhum, Shailendra Kumar Srivastava said trouble started after a first-year tribal student, Gaurango Pradhan, was allegedly tormented by some seniors yesterday.

“Today, when an auto-rickshaw carrying engineering students from Jamshedpur was passing through Pokhari village, a group of local youths intercepted the vehicle. When Pradhan identified them, the locals dragged out three students out and thrashed them,” the DSP said. Frenzied residents, mostly tribals, also gheraoed the college.

As the news spread, a group of students came out of and a pitched battle ensued. The students also reached Pokhari and ransacked homes of villagers to vent their ire.

Prompt action by the college management and the police helped rein in the students, who returned to college. The college authorities decided to vacate the premises to avoid further confrontation.

“The authorities arranged for two buses to send back the students coming from Jamshedpur through a different route,” the DSP said.

But the students of one of the buses forced the driver to travel through Pokhari. They got down, assaulted more villagers and ransacked more homes this time around.

As a result, residents of Pokhari and neighbouring Edaldih village gheraoed the college, demanding that the management hand over the culprits. The angry tribals left the place only after college principal M.P. Singh apologised on behalf of the students, and the SDO and DSP intervened in the matter.