LAHORE: A heavy police contingent reached the Punjab University New Campus on Wednesday after three students were injured in a clash between two rival groups over managing the affairs of a blood donation camp set up there by a non-government organisation.

A police official said three students suffered minor injuries and were rushed to hospital following the clash.

Giving details, he said the Sundas Foundation set up a blood donation camp at the Halley College of the Punjab University (PU), on the request of the college administration.

He said some members (students) of the Punjab Council (union) reached there in connection with some administrative affairs related to the camp. Meanwhile, he said, activists of the Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) also reached there, claiming that the camp was arranged by their organisation.

Both sides exchanged words on the issue, leading to a scuffles between the students, he said, adding that the college security guards alerted the PU administration which called the police.

Lahore operations police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Mohammad Abid, on being informed of the clash, directed Iqbal Town superintendent of police (SP) to dispatch the force to the PU campus to defuse the tension, he said.

IJT’s PU New Campus head Abdul Qadir told Dawn the blood donation camp was arranged by his organisation, while some Punjab Council members tried to take control of its administrative matters, resulting in a clash.

He alleged that the Punjab Council students attacked the IJT members when they were busy rendering services at the camp. He denied any anyone was injured in the clash.

PU spokesperson Khurram Shahzad, however, said the camp was set up on the request of the Halley College administration and both the unions had nothing to do with it.

The PU administration has launched an inquiry into the episode to identity the culprits, he added.

In the past, he said, the PU had expelled several students for creating unrest on the campus, adding the administration won’t tolerate any violence. Action would be taken in the light of the inquiry report, he said, adding that the police were present in the varsity to normalise the situation.

To a question, the spokesperson said three students suffered injuries in the clash and were shifted to hospital for treatment.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2022