Amritsar: A violent confrontation between two groups of students broke out at the Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology in Amritsar on Wednesday night, leaving at least six students injured. The dispute, which reportedly began in the C-Block mess around 9:30 PM, was sparked by an argument over the use of the Bhojpuri language. Students from Bihar alleged that they were targeted by a group of Kashmiri students for speaking in their native tongue while having dinner. The situation escalated rapidly into a physical brawl, resulting in several injuries and leaving one student in critical condition with a suspected brain hemorrhage.
Rishabh Niranjan, a B.Tech Computer Science student from Bihar, claimed that the altercation started when a group of Kashmiri students objected to them speaking Bhojpuri, stating that such language would not be tolerated on the premises. According to the victim’s account, the disagreement turned violent when the opposing group initiated a physical assault, forcing the Bihar students to flee for their safety. One student is currently undergoing intensive treatment in a local hospital and is reported to be in a coma. The incident has created significant tension within the college campus, prompting authorities to heighten security measures.
Following the clash, students from Bihar have levelled serious allegations against the college administration, claiming that they were unfairly confined to their hostel rooms. The students alleged that they were threatened with heavy fines and expulsion if they attempted to leave their quarters to protest. Furthermore, they accused the administration of showing bias toward the Kashmiri students by engaging in discussions with them in official offices while keeping the Bihar group isolated. While the college administration has yet to issue an official statement regarding these specific claims, the affected students have threatened to launch a large-scale demonstration if justice is not served.
Local police reached the campus shortly after receiving reports of the violence and have initiated a formal investigation into the matter. Officers are currently scanning CCTV footage from the mess and surrounding areas to identify the primary instigators and determine the exact sequence of events. While the police are currently treating the incident as a mutual dispute between student groups, the gravity of the injuries sustained has heightened the urgency of the probe. Security personnel remain stationed at the college to prevent further outbreaks of violence as the investigation continues.
