LAHORE, July 15: Tension mounted on the Punjab University New Campus on Thursday following clashes between police and students over demolition of pedestrian bridges over the canal. The clashes left around two dozen students and policemen injured.

Disregarding opposition by the university administration and students, the Punjab government razed eight pedestrian bridges that linked hostels with academic blocks in an operation which began late Wednesday night.

The government, which wants smooth flow of traffic along the canal, has reopened a 'sensitive issue' that threatens peace in the country's premier university. It did so during the Shahbaz Sharif government, but had to yield to the students' resistance after the death of two girls and a boy in accidents.

Meanwhile, heavy contingents of riot police were deployed at the new and the old campuses to control the students. All roads leading to the two campuses were manned. Around 40 students, who were detained by the police during clashes since Wednesday night, were set free on Thursday evening, police said.

No sooner had the government officials begun to demolish first of the eight bridges in front of the Islamic Centre, a large number of students from hostels thronged the area and attempted to stop the Communication and Works Department officials from working.

The students staged a sit-in and blocked traffic due to which police were called out. The police tried to disperse the students, who in return pelted stones and bricks. The police baton-charged and teargassed the students of whom 11 suffered injuries and several others fainted.

Three policemen also suffered wounds on Wednesday night, and another eight students and a police official were injured the next morning. The police continued chasing the students to the hostels where they fired shells. Girl students at the hostels also faced a great deal of difficulty, as they had no place to take shelter.

However, the police had controlled the situation on the campus by afternoon, though small groups of students kept appearing on the scene. It was a tough day for motorists, as several roads were not opened till last reports came in. Meanwhile, the PU students, teachers and administration in a statement expressed deep concern over the demolition of the bridges and the police action.