Police Lathicharge Leaves 80 Students Injured in Bhagalpur Engineering College Clash

Bhagalpur: A late-night clash between first-year and third-year students at an engineering college hostel in Bhagalpur escalated into a violent confrontation on Monday, prompting police intervention. The situation turned chaotic as the police reportedly resorted to lathicharge, leaving around 80 students injured.

The altercation reportedly began over insufficient food in the hostel mess. Senior students advised juniors to skip the meal, stating that such shortages were common. This led to an argument that spiraled into a physical fight. Hostel faculty bypassed the principal and directly called the police to control the situation.

Over 300 policemen, armed and equipped with helmets, were deployed to the campus. According to students, the police broke into the second floor of the hostel, damaging gates, laptops, mobile phones, and other personal belongings in the process. Videos recorded by students show policemen attempting to break into the hostel and forcefully entering rooms.

A third-year student recounted, “I was preparing for a mock test when I heard the police breaking gates. They broke into the room across from mine and injured a student. Many of us tried to plead with them, but they continued beating us and destroying our belongings.”

Another student added, “The police were indiscriminate, beating anyone they could find. More than 80 of us were injured. They even broke the gates of the washrooms and our rooms.”

Students expressed anger at the police’s conduct and the administration’s silence. They questioned, “If the police deny responsibility, who came and beat us? The administration must take accountability for the damage caused and compensate us.”

City SP Dr. K. Ramdas confirmed that the injured students were sent to Mayaganj and Sadar Hospitals for treatment. He stated, “The matter has been resolved through discussions with the students and college administration. Allegations of police misconduct are being investigated.”

The college principal also addressed the incident, stating that CCTV footage is being reviewed. “We cannot comment on who is at fault until the investigation is complete. Students are leaving the hostel on their own, not under any directive to vacate,” he clarified.

During the confrontation, students reportedly damaged the principal’s car. Both sides have accused each other of escalation, further complicating the issue.