A clash erupted between police and tribal students in Jharkhand's Pakur district on Friday night, which left over 15 people, including six police personnel injured. The incident took place when a police team reached the KKM College campus to investigate an abduction case, police told news agency PTI.
Following the incident, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Jharkhand unit lashed out at the CM Hemant Soren-led government for being "anti-tribal" and questioned him why the tribal students were being treated as "terrorists".
The clash has sparked a massive row in the state, leaving students agitated as they demand justice for those being beaten by the police last night.
Police Claim 'Brutally Attacked' By Students At College
Police told PTI that the clash began after a group of students from a tribal hostel on the college premises protested their entry into the campus. The Town police station had received information about a missing boy, who had allegedly been abducted and was being taken towards Tinpahar area. His last location had been traced near the college's campus, Pakur Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar claimed.
Thereafter, a constable and driver were sent to the location to interrogate. Upon finding the gate of the college campus open, they entered the campus, when a hostel inmate questioned them how they entered the college premises without permission.
This escalated into a heated argument that further got out of hands, resulting in a clash. "The student went inside the hostel and returned with a large number of other inmates armed with hockey sticks and lathis," the SP said.
Kumar further said that the sub-inspector and constable were beaten brutally by the students and they managed to escape somehow to save their lives. "The students also broke the windshield of the police vehicle," Kumar added.
Thereafter, a police force led by Town police station in-charge was sent to the college. However, they were also attacked by the students, SP said, adding that six police personnel were injured in the attack by students.
Students Claim Police Attacked Them In Sleep Over Protest Rally
While the cops allege attack by the tribal students, the latter in turn claim that they were beaten by the police while they were asleep. They claimed that about 10 inmates were brutally beaten up by the police and they are undergoing treatment at local hospital in Pakur.
A student alleged that police forcefully entered the college campus, despite their objection and asked them to not indulge in politics, referring to a rally, PTI reported.
The students were supposed to stage a protest rally against the Bangladeshi infiltration in Pakur's Maheshpur area on Saturday.
The state BJP alleged that tribal students, who were scheduled to stage the protest rally were brutally beaten up by the police. The party also demanded action against those involved in the incident.
However, SP Kumar stressed that the incident was not linked with the proposed rally as its permission had already been granted by the sub-divisional officer (SDO), PTI reported.
Students staged protest in the area against the police after the incident.
'Why Are Tribal Students Treated Like Terrorists?': BJP Questions Soren After 'Attack' By Police
Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Amar Bauri alleged that the Hemant Soren-led government has crossed all limits of torture on tribals
"Muslim infiltrators grabbed the land of tribals in Gaybathan area in Maheshpur assembly seat. When owners of the land protested, they were beaten up. When the administration did not take any action, tribal organisations in Pakur decided to hold a mega rally on Saturday over the incident. Instead of taking action against infiltrators, police visited a tribal hostel in KKM College and beat up the students brutally, who were scheduled to lead the agitation," Bauri alleged.
In a post on X, Bauri stated that the police launched an attack on the Adivasi Kalyan Balk Hostel KKM College in Pakur to make the rally unsuccessful. He claimed that the students were attacked by around 100 personnel, who were armed with rods, sticks, and weapons.
"They suddenly attacked the sleeping students, and no one got a chance to handle them. They created a lot of ruckus and uproar. Some children are missing since the incident," he wrote.
Bauri also alleged in the post that the JMM-Congress-RJD government in the state was turning Pakur into a land for Bangladeshis and was supressing the anger and protest of the tribals through lathi-charge.
He also shared pictures of injured students on his X handle.
"The Deputy Commissioner of Pakur district and the police administration should identify the culprits in the case and ensure strict action. The rule of law should be established in Pakur and not that of goons," the BJP leader demanded.