Iqbal Hostel boarders force girl out of campus for talking to a friend host hell: Iqbal Hostel in Patna. Telegraph picture

Patna, Aug. 11: In almost a rerun of Wednesday’s incident of campus chaos, some boarders of Iqbal Hostel allegedly beat up a boy and a girl today for chatting on the Patna College campus.

Despite Patna University’s directive to deal strictly with students involved in creating nuisance on the college campus and police raiding hostels under Patna College twice in a day after Wednesday’s incident, the unruly incident seemed to be a grim reminder of the lawlessness abounding on campuses.

The incident occurred around 1pm when some boarders of Iqbal Hostel, on their way back to their hostel after offering namaz, spotted a boy and a girl sitting in the corridor of the hostel. The boarders quizzed the duo on the reason behind sitting there when most of the classes were off. Unsatisfied with their answers, the boarders assaulted them.

Amit Ranjan, a student of the campus, said: “The boarders were at first quizzing the couple as to why they were sitting on the campus. But an altercation ensued between the boy and the boarders. Irked over the altercation, the boarders assaulted the duo.”

Sources said the boarders not only assaulted them but also dragged the girl out of the campus. On hearing about the incident, the college employees and senior teachers ran to the spot. They were rescued after some teachers and senior students pacified the boarders. The identity of the duo is yet to be ascertained but sources said they were students of the college.

The college campus grew tensed as students rushed back home. Today’s incident has sent a chill down the spine of college students as boarders of Minto and Iqbal hostels clashed with each other hurling bombs yesterday.

Pragati Tiwari, a second year student of the college, said: “In the past two days, the college has witnessed two incidents. We are afraid of coming to the college despite a police picket on the campus. Cases of eve-teasing and group clashes have become a routine affair to which the university administration is a mute spectator.” Tiwari also condemned the moral policing by some students claiming that such incidents instill fear among girl students.

The students also complained that the common rooms of the college are in a bad shape, as there absence of benches and frequent power cuts leave the students with no other option but to sit in the open during recess.

When The Telegraph contacted Patna College principal Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, he feigned ignorance about today’s incident saying they have asked the hostel warden to identify students involved in yesterday’s incident.

Singh said: “It is a known fact that hostels within the college campus have become a nuisance. I have requested the varsity administration several times to close down the hostel but no action has been taken.” Meanwhile, most of the boarders at Minto Hostel have vacated their rooms fearing police arrest. A boarder of Minto Hostel on condition of anonymity said: “The police on Wednesday night raided the hostel twice, first around 10pm and then at 3am.”

The boarder also said most of the boarders spent the night outside their hostel sleeping at Ganga Ghat and Darbhanga House Ghat, which are close to the college campus. Ravindra Kumar, a student of Minto Hostel, said: “We are afraid of returning to the hostel because the police can arrest us any time. Moreover, it is affecting our studies.”