1 killed on college campus
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Oct 7 — Gobind, a resident of Deep Nagar, was killed in a clash on the campus of Rajindra College here today. Another youth, Jaspal Singh of Birtalab village, was seriously injured in the clash.

Police sources said two groups clashed with each other in the college campus in which Gobind was allegedly killed with a sharp-edged weapon. At least eight suspects, mostly outsiders had been identified.

Fear has gripped students and staff members of the college. The staff members held a meeting with the Principal, Mr S.D. Bhagat in this connection.

According to civil hospital sources, Jaspal Singh, who had suffered a serious injury on his abdomen was out of danger. Gobind was brought dead to the hospital.

Police sources said the clash took place near the open air theatre in the college and the two groups which indulged in the clash comprised of outsiders.

A senior member of the teaching faculty on the condition of anonymity said that the college campus had become a paradise for the outsider ‘goons’ and eve teasing and liquor consumption went unchecked. A few days back, outsiders also beat up a person in the campus when he resisted the teasing of his daughter by them. The outsiders also misbehaved with a senior faculty member few days ago.

Sources said incidents of violence had become a common occurrence on the college campus since the beginning of the current academic session in July.

Mr S.D. Bhagat, Principal, said he had requested the district police authorities a number of times to deploy police personnel in adequate strength in and around the campus to check violence and entry of outsiders in the college premises.

He said college staff were also vigilant about the outsiders and whenever it came to their notice, the matter was reported to the police. Without police assistance, it was very difficult to check the entry of outsiders. The district police authorities, however, had not listened to their repeated requests, he added.

Mr Harnek Singh Sran, SSP, when contacted said the college Principal had never requested for police assistance for maintaining discipline in the college. He added that Mr Bhagat never informed him about any incident of violence in the college. The case regarding Gobind’s murder had been registered.