Protests over attacks from hostel

Patna: Residents of Bhikhna Pahari locality in Patna came out on the streets on Friday after a violent clash between a group of residents and boarders of Patna University’s Patel Hostel on Thursday night.

Police said the residents disrupted traffic on the busy road to press for the arrest of the boarders who attacked a local resident on Thursday night. The protesters burnt tyres and pelted the police with stones.

An FIR has been lodged with Kadamkuan police station for the attack on the residents. Additional forces were requisitioned from the district control room as the protesters did not relent. They forced the local shopkeepers to shut their shops, as 1km between Bhikhna Pahari and Bazaar Samiti bore testimony to vandalism. “We are fed up with these frequent attacks. Every time the police come and pacify us, but the hostel boarders have crossed limits. They often thrash residents on one pretext or the other. We will not tolerate this anymore,” said an upset Gautam Kumar. Another resident, Bhuwaneshwar Sinha also said: “This attack was not for the first time. Such incidents have become a routine affair.”

Kadamkuan police swung into action on Friday and carried out raids to arrest those involved in attacking the local residents. An officer posted at the Kadamkuan police station, however, said the accused boarders have taken shelter elsewhere.

City superintendent of police (central) D. Amarkesh said identity of the attackers was being ascertained with CCTV camera footage obtained from some shops in the locality. “This is not a serious issue, but such incidents do occur from time to time,” he told The Telegraph over phone.

Amarkesh said raids were underway to nab the culprits. “A fight broke out between the residents and the hostel boarders, but they escaped from the spot when the police arrived,” he said.

Local residents, on the other hand, alleged that the students hurled bombs to terrorise them. “This is high time senior police officers should intervene and sort out the problems the residents of the area are facing,” a shopkeeper said.

Courtesy: The Telegraph