HYDERABAD: The Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, was closed for a day (Wednesday) for all academic purposes after a spiral of violent incidents outside and in a nearby health facility on Tuesday.

Eleven people, including some SAU students, were injured in a clash that occurred in front of the university’s main gate and several more were injured in a similar incident in the area’s Rural Health Centre, where the victims were being provided treatment.

The trouble started in the morning when two students — one belonging to the Baloch tribe and the other to the Kaleri community — scuffled over occupying a chair in the crop production faculty.

A group of Kaleri community members rushed to the university and chased the Baloch student and his supporters right up to the administration block.

A petty dispute between two students led to clashes between their communities

SAU’s private security guards and police intervened and somehow controlled the situation but the two sides had already called out more supporters from their respective communities. They came face to face in front of the university’s entrance, where violence broke out again. Shots were also fired by unknown persons causing injuries to one Kaleri man.

In the meantime, a strong contingent of police arrived to prevent an escalation.

Those who were injured in the two violent incidents were taken to the nearby Rural Health Centre (RHC), where another clash took place.

Armed with axes, sticks and other blunt objects, a group of enraged men forced their way into the RHC and attacked their rivals. They ransacked the windowpanes and other fixtures. Witnesses said that some injured people were shifted from the RHC by their supporters even without proper medical treatment having been provided to the patients.

The Tandojam police confirmed names of only eleven injured persons after detaining some of them from within the RHC, saying that most of them were involved in the violent incidents.

The detained people were Gul Zaman (with bullet injuries), Ghulam Asghar, Zameer Hussain, Ghulam Hussain, Roshan Ali and Mashkoor Hussain from the Kaleri community; and Abdul Hakeem, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Ilyas and Zahid from the Baloch tribe.

An FIR of the episode was yet to be registered.

It was learnt that efforts for a reconciliation were underway through elders of the two sides.

SAU version

According to a spokesperson for the SAU, a minor altercation had occurred between students which was promptly stopped and brought under control with the assistance of the university’s security personnel and police.

A subsequent clash between members of the two communities associated with the students took place outside the university premises, he said.

He announced suspension of all academic activities for Wednesday, saying that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure amid concerns over possible further tension and to ensure safety and security of students, faculty members and staff.

A statement issued by the SAU administration said that the closure was aimed at preventing any untoward incident, to protect students and to safeguard university’s property and assets.

It directed all those concerned to strictly comply with the decision and extend cooperation to the SAU in maintaining peace and security on the campus.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2026