A video grab of a security officer trying to stop AISF activists from attacking Patna University vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh (in blue shirt). Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, March 9: A group of All India Students’ Federation (AISF) members today roughed up Patna University vice-chancellor (VC) Shambhu Nath Singh. The VC’s bodyguard had to pull out his pistol from the holster to rescue him.

Singh suffered moderate injuries in the incident following which the PU administration lodged a named FIR against eight persons — Vishwajeet, Sushil Kumar, Anshumaan, Mahesh Kumar, Anish Kumar, Nikhil Kumar Jha, Anshu Kumari and Gopal Kumar. The PU administration will forward the names of 10 others involved in the violence to the police shortly.

When contacted, the VC termed it an unfortunate incident. “This is the third time such a thing has happened. The first time, they wanted to show their muscle power barely a week of my joining. Last year, they ransacked my home,” Singh told The Telegraph.

AISF state secretary Sushil Kumar admitted that a “small commotion” took place today. “The VC came but didn’t stop to meet the students. He should have. He had earlier assured us that our demands would be met. The problem started when his bodyguard took out his firearm,” said Sushil.

Narrating the sequence of events, proctor Kriteshwar Prasad told The Telegraph: “The VC alighted from his car and started climbing the staircase to his second floor office accompanied by bodyguard Ramdas Paswan, a sub-inspector and some constables. He had barely climbed six or seven steps when a group of students, sitting and raising slogans beneath the staircase, dragged the VC from behind. Then, they started punching him and hitting him with sticks. The cops stood mute, while the VC’s shirt was torn in the melee. Reacting quickly, Singh’s bodyguard took out his pistol and raised it in the air. Instantly, the attackers backed off.”

The AISF had been staging a dharna at one corner of the ground floor of the building for eight days, demanding upgrade of infrastructure of the PU central library and hostels, opening of one of the gates of Moinul Haque Stadium that connects to Saidpur hostel, students’ union rights and a cut in fees of bachelors in fine arts course at Patna Arts College among others.

An officer at Pirbahore police station said: “The PU administration has lodged an FIR. Investigations are on. No more comments can be made at present.”

Patna University Teachers’ Association will go on a token strike on March 11 to protest the incident.