Iqbal hostel. Telegraph picture

The Patna University (PU), the Patna College and police have landed in an awkward situation.

Three days after boarders of the Iqbal and Minto hostels hurled bombs on the college campus, neither the administration nor PU nor the police knew how to get the hostels vacated.

On Tuesday, senior police officers said the college administration was yet to contact them in connection with the eviction notice it served on the boarders on Saturday evening.

PU, on the other hand, seems to have washed its hands off the controversy, shifting the onus of taking action on Patna College. The college, in turn, passed the buck on the men-in-uniform and vice-versa.

Senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said: “The police have done what it should do. Cops have been placed in the college for vigilance under the supervision of a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer. However, the police cannot go forward and start evicting the students from the hostel. This isn’t our job. We can assist the college in the same if the students create problems. The police cannot use force against the students. Furthermore, the college principal has not given a call or message to us regarding any eviction drive. We cannot do all by ourselves. FIRs have been lodged against some students, who are absconding,”

Following Saturday’s violence, the college authorities had issued an eviction notice to the boarders of five hostels located on the college campus with a deadline of 6am on September 23.

College principal Rash Bihari Prasad Singh said: “We have done our part. We have issued the eviction notice and have requested the administration to take action in this connection. One should ask the police about the action being taken in connection with the eviction.”

PU vice-chancellor (VC) Arun Sinha declined to comment. “I cannot say anything as the dean of students’ welfare or the Patna College principal should address the issue. One should ask them about this,” said Sinha.

Dean of students’ welfare K.N. Paswan said the VC was to be contacted for comment. “You need to contact the VC,” he said. When told that the VC had been contacted, he added: “It is for the college principal to answer.”

Amid all this confusion, the hostel remained occupied on Tuesday.