Patna: Tension gripped the Bhikhna Pahadi area on Thursday after boarders from Sardar Patel hostel brawled with local residents during the immersion of a Goddess Saraswati idol.

The clash erupted when the boarders passing through the area asked some shop-owners to down shutters. When residents objected, the boarders attacked the shop owners.

The Sardar Patel hostel is a private hostel run by an organisation called Patel Seva Sansthan. Residents claimed that the boarders engage in criminal activities.

The violence started with boarders asking the owner of Unique Fashion hosiery outlet to close the shop. When he objected, the boarders armed with sticks and hockey sticks attacked his shop and other stores. The violence continued for around an hour.

"The boarders get into fights with residents and traders over petty issues," said local resident Manohar Lal. "The attack was in retaliation to last week's dispute. The boarders had demanded Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 from traders as subscription money for Saraswati Puja. Those who had refused were targeted."

The traders claimed that the violence continued for around an hour but no police personnel arrived.

Sources said with the police missing in action, some residents attacked the boarders in retaliation. After an hour, personnel from Kadamkuan police station, along with personnel from police lines, reached the spot.

Kadamkuan police station house officer Ajay Kumar said: "When we reached the spot, our priority was to divert the procession to stop the violence from escalating. The police had to lathicharge the boarders and residents to bring the situation under control."

The SHO said FIRs will be lodged against people involved. Residents and traders claimed that the boarders enjoy the patronage of ruling party leaders and even the police are afraid of taking action. The residents claimed that on Saraswati Puja, some leaders from a ruling party visited the hostel on the invitation of the boarders.