May 02, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1429

TIMERGARA, May 1: The University of Malakand was closed for indefinite period and hostels were vacated after clashes between two student organisations on Thursday.

According to sources, clashes erupted when the Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF) arranged a party to welcome new students and say goodbye to seniors at the convocation hall of the university in Chakdara. However, an armed group of the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba (IJT) allegedly disrupted the function.

“They (IJT) first blew off some explosive materials near the convocation hall and then started indiscriminate firing injuring three students belonging to the PkSF,” Zakir Khan, a student, reportedly told the local police.

The injured students -- identified as Kamran, Qasim and Asif -- were rushed to the DHQ hospital Batkhela, where Kamran and Qasim were referred to Peshawar in critical condition.

After the clashes, the university administration took prompt action and ordered closure of the university for indefinite period and vacated the hostels of both male and female students.

All roads leading to the university were blocked by the administration with the help of law enforcement agencies, said Dost Mohammad Khan, a spokesman for the university.

“The University Public School and University Girls School will remain open,” he said.

The Chakdara police confirmed that an FIR had been lodged by a student against the workers of the IJT including Sultan, Muslim, Ashfaq, Masood Shah, Jan Alam, Inayatur Rahman, Fazlullah and Mukhtiar.