Patna University vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh visits Patna College campus with a police officer and university officials. Telegraph picture

Patna, Aug. 10: A hint of romance sparked violence this morning between the boarders of Minto and Jackson hostels on the Patna College campus when the Patna University vice-chancellor (VC) was inspecting the institution.

The boarders allegedly hurled crude bombs at each other, triggering tension on the campus. But the college authorities and police denied any such incident.

Patna city superintendent of police central Shivdeep Lande visited the college campus and inspected the two hostels. He said: “There was no sign of a bomb attack or even firing. The boarders ignited firecrackers to spread fear and commotion.”

Patna College principal Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh also denied that any bombs were hurled. But he said he had recommended action against the errant students.

“I have informed the varsity administration to take action in connection with the violence,” Singh said.

Minto Hostel boarder Avinash Kumar has lodged an FIR against eight boarders of Jackson Hostel. Lande confirmed it.

The officer said: “An FIR has been lodged against eight boarders of Jackson Hostel. They are Prabhat Kumar, Rishi Raj, Gunjan Kumar, Raghvendra Kumar, Piyush Kumar, Vishal Kumar, Roshan Kumar and Raju Kumar.”

Sources said the sight of a boarder of Minto Hostel chatting up a girl on the college campus around 10am infuriated some boarders of Jackson Hostel. The latter assaulted the boy.

Ego hurt, the boy went to Minto Hostel and returned to the college campus with his hostel-mates. They attacked the Jackson Hostel boarders with hockey sticks and iron rods. They even hurled bombs when at the Jackson Hostel boarders when the newly appointed Patna University VC, Sambhu Nath Singh, was going around the college.

A senior teacher of Patna College said: “Singh, varsity development officer Sanjay Kumar and Patna College principal Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh were inspecting various departments of the institution in the morning. When they reached the English department of the college, there was a loud noise of an explosion.”

The trio ran towards the hostels to find the students running helter-skelter.

“There was complete commotion at the college. For a few minutes, they had no idea about what had happened,” said the teacher.

Later, the VC and the college principal learnt that some boarders of Minto Hostel had hurled bombs at their Jackson Hostel counterparts. They rushed to Minto Hostel only to find it deserted.

In the meantime, a large number of Jackson Hostel boarders gheraoed the VC demanding improvement of the security arrangements on the college campus. They also claimed that the Patna College hostels were in abad shape.

The college sources said today’s incident was an outcome of tension between the boarders of the two hostels simmering over the past few weeks. The sight of the boy chatting with a girl stoked the fire.

Police raids were on in both the hostels when reports last came in.