GILGIT: A student and a policeman received injuries when two groups of students clashed in Government Degree College for Boys Jutial Gilgit on Monday.

The clash erupted between two the groups of students over holding a religious programme on the premises of the college. Both the groups belong to two religious organisations.

According to police sources, a religious group in the college wanted to conduct a religious programme while the other group was opposing it. Police was dispatched to the college to control the situation.

An official said that one of the groups was displaying banners and setting up stage for the programme at hall when police arrived at the college. The members of the other religious group were chanting slogans against them, he added.

The official said that members of both the groups scuffled with each other. They also pelted stones at each other, he added. Police fired tear gas shells at them and resorted to firing in the air to control the situation, he added.

The official said that members of both the religious groups were armed. He said that a police constable identified as Sajjad Ali and a student Rasheed Nawaz received injuries in the clash. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.

The official said the hall was set on fire by unidentified persons. Fire brigade was called to extinguish the fire, he added.

Police registered a case at Jutial police station against members of both the groups, however, no arrest was made.

Later, taking notice of the incident, the education department suspended principal of the college, Sarbaz Khan, and three lectures including Munawar Hussain, Fida Hussain and Ameer Jan.

Seventeen students were also expelled from the college. The college will remain closed for the next five days.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014