(Reported By Mohammad Moeen)
Clashes erupted between students and security personnel at Allahabad University on Monday, leading to arson and vandalism in the varsity campus. Several students and policemen were injured in the clashes. The security guards also fired several rounds in the air but no one was injured due to it.
The trouble began after security guards stopped a student leader from entering the campus, IANS reported. The student leader said that he was on his way to the bank inside the campus.
This led to a scuffle that soon went out of control and students started to pelt stones at the security guards. Several vehicles parked inside were vandalised and two bikes were set on fire.
Additional police were called in to control the situation, which was brought under control within a few hours.
A video that has gone viral on social media shows students throwing stones at the guards and at policemen who were called to the campus after the violence started.
Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said that the situation had been brought under control and officials were talking to both sides.
"The situation has now been brought under control. We will speak to the students and solve the issue. Two motorcycles were set on fire but it has now been brought under control by the fire brigade," Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma told reporters.
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Students have been peacefully agitating since the past few months on the issue of fee hike in the university. The Allahabad University administration has said it would not roll back the fee hike.
A series of meetings between the students and the district and university administration have proved inconclusive.
Agitating students have tried various ways of protest. A section of students tried to take "bhu-samadhi" (voluntarily burying themselves alive) to push their demand. A group of students have been on a relay hunger strike.
In September, one student reportedly committed suicide to register his protest. However, the varsity administration claimed that he was not a student of Allahabad University and was staying in the Tarachand hostel illegally, IANS reported.
The university in a statement said that a probe had been ordered into the incident.