Patna: Residents of Musallahpur locality in the city came out on the streets on Friday to protest what they called the high-handedness of the boarders of Patel hostel of Patna University during an idol immersion procession taken out by the students on Thursday.

The residents blocked the road, burnt tyres and paralysed the traffic from the morning. Shops and business establishments remained closed. The cops of Kadamkuan police station tried to bring the situation under control, in vain.

Apprehending that the situation may spiral out of control, the Kadamkuan police sent requisition for additional forces. Later, city superintendent of police (central) D. Amarkesh reached the spot with reinforcements and pacified the agitating residents.

The residents alleged that a group of inmates of the hostel misbehaved with residents and forced the shopkeepers to down shutters during the idol immersion procession on Thursday. They alleged that the boarders harass residents at every pretext.

City SP Amarkesh said: "We are keeping a close watch on the activities of the inmates. Action will be initiated against them if found guilty."

A few residents told the police that the boarders had targeted shops of those businessmen who had not paid chanda (subscription) for Saraswati Puja. Extortion and clash with the residents have become almost a routine affair in the area, a resident said.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said video clips have been obtained to ascertain the identity of the protesters who smashed the windshields of private vehicles and forced the closure of shops in the locality.

Early this week, the police had seized explosive material from one of the hostels of Patna University.