NIT students clash with protesters from Patna University and (above) PU students stage a rally with Chandrashekhar’s coffin in Patna on Tuesday. Pictures by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Feb. 15: A silent protest turned violent today when college students ended up exchanging blows with each other.

Students of Patna University (PU) had launched a protest against the alleged apathy of varsity authorities towards Chandrashekhar, a boarder of Minto Hostel, who died at the Max Hospital in New Delhi yesterday.

The silent agitation turned into a battlefield when the protesters invaded the premises of National Institute of Technology (NIT) this morning.

Students from Minto Hostel, Jackson Hostel, Iqbal Hostel and New Hostel assembled on the Patna College premises and marched with the coffin carrying Chandrashekhar’s body which arrived in the capital this morning.

The boarders after disrupting classes in colleges under Patna University, reached the NIT campus.

When the security guards refused to let in the protesting students, they forced their way into the campus and started creating a ruckus.

The protesters first drove away students in classrooms on the ground floor before moving on to the first floor.

Some NIT students became furious after seeing the forceful entry of outsiders on their campus and attacked them with sticks and belts.

For almost half-an-hour the campus witnessed violent clashes between students from Patna University and NIT.

The mediapersons, who were covering the students’ protest, were also not spared. “Students from NIT as well as from PU attacked them,” an eyewitness said.

Realising that they were outnumbered by the NIT students, the PU students fled the spot after a while.

Town deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sheela Irani said: “Based on the complaint of NIT students, the Pirbohore police have registered a complaint against university students for forcefully entering the campus of another institute and misbehaving with teachers and students.”

After fleeing the NIT campus, the university students went to the Patna University Central Library. Even there they created a ruckus and started forcing the readers out of the library. They also attacked some students when they protested.

Earlier, around 12noon, the body of Chandrashekhar reached Patna College, after which the students again assembled and blocked the busy Ashok Rajpath, disrupting traffic movement.

The blockade was lifted after police reached the spot.

The protesting students were demanding a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for Chandrashekar’s family. The protest was also supported by All India Students’ Association (AISA), of which Chandrashekar was a member.

Abhuday, an AISA leader, while addressing a gathering of hostel inmates said: “Chandrashekar died due to the negligence of Patna Medical College and Hospital as well as the university. Despite several requests, he was not provided medical treatment on time.”

Meanwhile, the university has condemned the death of the student.

Patna University vice-chancellor Sudipto Adhikari told The Telegraph: “The incident is very sad. We have lost a member of our family. The university will take a decision on providing compensation to the family members of Chandrashekhar after holding a discussion with the university officials.”

Chandrashekhar slipped from the top floor of Minto Hostel on the night of Saraswati Puja, while looking for his keys. He was admitted to the PMCH and was later shifted to Delhi. His condition deteriorated and he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital yesterday.

The protest, meanwhile, disrupted the mock tests for BA part II examinations at Patna College, which was scheduled to start from today.