Mallika Dureja
After a group of outsiders attacked students with swords at Doaba College in Kharar on Friday evening, one student sustained stab wounds and another fractured his leg by jumping from the first floor to safety.
At least 26 males entered the college with sharp-edged weapons to attack students over an argument during a farewell party earlier in the evening, exposing the college’s inadequate security measures.
A day after the assault, which was captured by CCTV cameras, only one suspect, identified as Harmanjot Singh Billa, was arrested.
In addition to the two Kashmiri pupils who sustained serious injuries, Irshad Ahmad Khan and Faidar Rasool, several others sustained minor injuries. The injured college students are pursing degrees in BBA, B Pharma, and Medical Science Liaison.
According to the police, the college was hosting a farewell celebration for graduating third-year students on Friday evening when a group of familiar outsiders entered the premises.
According to the police, the intruders engaged in a brawl with students who were dancing on the stage. In addition, a student’s heated dispute with a teacher did not go over well with the other group of students, which sparked a controlled brawl.
“Later, while some students were eating supper in the hostel mess, a group of 26 outsiders armed with swords, rods, and other sharp-edged weapons attacked them. While Irshad sustained multiple stab wounds, including to the cranium, Faidar fractured his leg by jumping from the canteen’s first floor to escape. Several additional students sustained minor injuries during the assault, but were able to escape to safety. The attackers ultimately escaped the scene. “It was not an assault specifically on Kashmiri students,” stated a police officer.
The victims were hurried to the local public hospital, where the students with minor injuries were administered first aid and Irshad and Faidar are still receiving treatment.
“While we were dancing at the party, guys around us began to push us, leading to an altercation. Later, while we were eating in the mess hall, they brought in reinforcements and attacked us. I am astounded that they were able to access the college campus with swords and other weapons, said Irshad, whose stab wounds required stitches.
Faidar stated, “Roughly eight students were eating supper with us when they attacked us. Clearly, they intended to murder us. I was unable to walk after jumping from the first floor to evade the attack. Despite yelling for assistance, no sentry or staff member appeared to assist. Our pals came to our aid.”
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The injured students claimed that it took the hostel administration a long time to arrange a vehicle to transport Irshad to the hospital, despite the fact that he was covered in blood. They demanded a police investigation into how armed intruders gained access to the college campus.
Bhagatveer, station house officer (SHO) of the Sadar Kharar police station, stated that police had apprehended one suspect, an outsider, and were conducting investigations to apprehend the remaining suspects. At the station, charges of attempted homicide and rioting have been filed against 26 suspects.
In a similar incident on February 23, over 30 outsiders assaulted Polytechnic College, Khuni Majra, Kharar hostellers with sharp-edged weapons, severing the little finger of a student.
Even in this instance, the assault was precipitated by a dispute between hostellers and outsiders who had unlawfully entered the college campus after hours.
The injured pupil underwent surgery to reattach the severed finger at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
