City central superintendent of police Shivdeep Lande and other policemen look for clues on the Patna University campus on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Sept. 21: A series of explosions around midday triggered panic among directorate of distance education (DDE) employees and students collecting and submitting admission forms at the office. Two persons had burst firecrackers to scare a few DDE officials.

The explosions occurred near the DDE counters on Patna University campus from where admission forms were being sold. Students who had gathered around the counter and DDE employees working there ran helter-skelter hearing the loud noises. Later, they discovered that no bombs had exploded. Two men, who had come to purchase admission forms, had burst crackers to spread panic.

Prashant Dutta, the director of DDE, told The Telegraph: “Two men, in their mid-thirties, burst the crackers. They had come to purchase forms.”

The youths had first asked the employee at the counter to give them an entire bunch of chalans. The employee refused as according to the regulations he can issue only a few at a time. An altercation ensued and the men threatened the employee with dire consequences if he did not concede to their demand.

They were, however, forced to beat a hasty retreat as they were outnumbered by the employees of DDE who came to their colleague’s rescue.

The two men returned soon after on a motorbike, their faces covered and burst crackers near the counter selling the forms.

Sources said there was utter pandemonium for around 15 minutes. Many students who had turned up to purchase or submit forms left hurriedly, fearing for their lives.

City central superintendent of police (SP) Shivdeep Lande soon turned up at the spot with personnel from the Pirbhore police station.

Lande told The Telegraph: “After initial investigation, we have found that it was not a bomb explosion. Firecrackers were burst.”

He also said no splinters or explosives were found at the spot. “Based on the information provided by the eyewitnesses and other people, we have identified one of the youths.”

The city SP also said the police would upgrade the security arrangements of Patna University if the administration wanted.

The DDE centre, which runs from the campus of PU, serves the interest of students who fail to get admission in regular courses in varsities. Nearly 10,000 students are enrolled with DDE. At present, DDE offers BA, BCom, BLib, management and other courses.