Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 1: Authorities at National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Hazratbal area of Srinagar today closed institute after two groups of students clashed inside the campus after India-West Indies cricket match and asked them to vacate the hostel.
The clash erupted after a group of local students celebrated West Indies victory inside the NIT campus and another group comprising non-locals objected to it. Initially a verbal brawl erupted between the two groups and it shortly turned into clashes.
Amid tense situation, the students fought with each and damaged equipments like laptops and furniture this afternoon. As the situation turned ugly, police rushed inside the campus to restore the order.
Police resorted to baton charge and fired teargas to control the situation. Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force was also deployed. Due to clash, there was heavy traffic jam on Lal Chowk-Hazratbal route and hundreds of commuters got stranded.
The clash between the two sides and subsequent police action, which continued for hours, resulted in minor injuries to nearly a dozen students. A teacher was also reported to be injured in the altercation. Authorities later deployed scores of policemen inside the campus to prevent further clashes.
In view of the prevailing situation, the NIT Registrar Fayaz Ahmad Mir issued a notification this evening and said that the institute is closed till further orders. In the notification, he disclosed that the students of the NIT refused to maintain discipline despite repeated requests of Institute authorities and local administration. The Registrar also directed the students to vacate the hostel.
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