Cuttack, Nov. 22: Authorities of the Ravenshaw University are in a fix ahead of the varsity's eighth convocation, scheduled on November 28, as the campus has been on the boil over yesterday's clash between two student groups.

Varsity sources said there had been a rivalry among the inmates of both the hostels.

Yesterday, at least 10 students suffered severe injuries in the clash that took place between a few students and boarders of the boys' hostels - Lalitgiri and New hostel.

While the authorities dubbed the incident as post-poll violence and blamed the rivalry over past disputes among the student groups, the varsity's sexual harassment committee said it had got nothing to do with the students' election.

On the other hand, hostel boarders are blaming each other for the violence. They also staged demonstrations demanding a probe into the incident.

"It is unfortunate that the clash took place ahead of the convocation and the NAAC team visit scheduled next month. We received representations from both the groupsand a detail inquiry into the incident will be conducted," said Ravenshaw University vice-chancellor Prakash Chandra Sarangi.

Sarangi further said stern action would be taken against the students involved in the clash. "We will forward the representations submitted by the student groups to the disciplinary committee and police for necessary action," Sarangi said.

"Eight to 10 students, including boarders of Lalitgiri, East hostel and some outsiders, entered our hostel and attacked us with rods and sticks around 7:30pm," said Chiranjiv Panda, a BCom final-year student.

New hostel boarder Md Asfaq Ali, who is a second-year student, suffered injuries on his head. He said a group of students attacked them when they were waiting for dinner. Ali said a lot of outsiders were freely roaming on the campus. "We also staged a demonstration demanding stern action against those involved in the clash," he said.

However, the Lalitgiri boarders said the New hostel students attacked them when they opposed ragging of Plus III first-year students by some senior students.

"The clash is not related to students' union election. Some New hostel boarders were harassing a first-year student. When we went to their hostel, they also attacked us," said sexual harassment committee secretary Pratik Dixit.

First-year student Ajay Behera said senior students and the New hostel boarders had harassed him and his friend. "A few senior students and the New hostel boarders were harassing me and one of my friends yesterday. When I decided to report the matter to the authorities, five to six students launched an attack on us," Behera said.