Chhapra, Feb. 22: Activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today tasted the ire of alleged university officials while staging a dharna and raising slogans against the vice-chancellor (VC).

Some masked men armed with lathis and firearms attacked the activists and dispersed the gathering, injuring six of them. A press photographer’s camera was snatched away and another mediaperson was injured too. The inju- red activists are being treated at Chhapra Sadar Hospital.

State ABVP vice-president Vipin Bihari said: “Four activists have been seriously injured in the skirmish. Further course of action will be taken after an emergency ABVP meeting.”

Eyewitnesses said the activists were staging the dharna, when the registrar came with armed guards and had a heated argument with them. Soon after, some masked men attacked them.

When The Telegraph tried contacting the registrar, his cellphone was found switched off. Vice-chancellor D.P. Sinha said the whole incident was condemnable.

“ABVP bhi university ka ang hai. Yeh sangathan aisa nahin kar sakta. Dharna dene ki purv suchna bhi nahi di gai thi. Yah asamajik tatvo ka kaam hai. Mere virodhiyon ki saajish hai. (ABVP is also a part of the university, which cannot indulge into this kind of activity. There was no prior information also. The troublemongers were present in the garb of ABVP activists. Opponents who do not wish that I continue as VC plotted the entire incident),” the VC said.

He said a high-level inquiry will be conducted into today’s incident.