LAHORE: A group of students and workers allegedly tortured on Thursday evening two students, including a female, at Punjab University’s Institute of Communication Studies.

Officials said Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) activists were involved in the hoodlum.

IJT office-bearers rejected the allegations calling the incident a quarrel between two groups having no affiliation with any political camp.

The baton-wielding hooligans, who were around 40, also smashed doors after security guards tried to stop them. They first slapped the female student and then thrashed her male colleague standing by her.

According to officials, a couple of days ago, the male student had offended an IJT activist by stopping him from pestering the female student.

To settle the score, the IJT student reported the matter to his companions. The intruders also harassed the cameraman of a news channel for covering the incident.

The police also rushed to the spot after Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran visited the scene and asked the police to arrest those involved in the incident, a spokesperson for the university explained.

Condemning the incident, the spokesman said the varsity administration had identified a majority of the attackers and soon they would be behind bars.

IJT secretary (information) Syed Amjad Husain Bukhari told Dawn the incident was the fight between the two groups, one in favour of a female student and other supporting the male student who was pestering her.

He said the varsity must identify the attackers through CCTV footage and punish them under the law.

The Punjab University Academic Staff Association also condemned the incident, demanding a stern action against the culprits.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016