November 2 clash in Mansehra
PESHAWAR: Despite mounting tension between two groups of students at the Hazara University after a clash on November 2, a report submitted to the provincial government by the local authorities maintained that the varsity administration had played no role to defuse the situation, a source told The News.
The probe report submitted to the provincial government noted that the November 2 incident 2 wasn’t an isolated one. It said apart from several unreported incidents, at least 23 cases were properly registered since 2006, but the university administration had not been able to dissipate the perception of regional biases.
The report categorically stated that the situation showed the abject failure and lack of interest of the university administration in tackling this vital issue that can result in serious law and order situation. A hand grenade was also hurled in one previous clash that injured six students. The report identified 29 students from one group and 27 from a rival group as troublemakers.
“As per the intelligence reports, these students were involved in grouping of students on linguistic, ethnic and sectarian grounds. The police have carried out a number of search operations in and outside the campus, but the university administration has not taken any step at their level to quell the burning issue,” stated the official report obtained by The News.
The clash started from a brawl at a snooker club outside the Hazara University in Shinkiari in Mansehra district on November 2. According to the official inquiry report, an ex-student Chand son of Munsif and Tayyab son of Ajmal of Dhodial clashed with Mohammad Suleman and Sajjad Ahmad belonging to Swat.
The report said Suleman was shot at and injured when Chand opened fire at him. Suleman was rushed to the Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad but he succumbed to his injuries.
“This sparked protests by the Pakhtun students who blocked the Karakoram Highway. The district administration and police officials arrived at the spot to hold talks with the protesting students and assure them the killer will be arrested within 24 hours,” stated the report submitted to the governor and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and others government functionaries.
The report added that while the students were protesting the authorities were informed that Tayyab from the rival party has also been killed allegedly by Chand and people from his area, Dhodial, were now gathering to attack the rival group of students. “The protesting students were demanding early arrest of the killer, showing them the body of Tayyab and holding talks with the vice-chancellor,” stated the report.
After the deputy commissioner and district police officer, the regional police officer came from Abbottabad to assure the students that the killer will be arrested.
“However, the students refused to get dispersed without holding talks with the vice-chancellor. The RPO, DPO and deputy commissioner asked the vice- chancellor and others to hold talks with the students so the road can be opened as a CPEC convoy was to be passed. However, the administration refused saying the students do not listen to them,” stated the inquiry report.
The police had to use force to open the road as there was no other solution due to the 10-hour long blockade during which public property was damaged. “The force was used to avoid a clash between the protestors and people of Dhodial and to open road for a mega convoy of CPEC to avert international embarrassment due to the situation. As many as 130 students who were held for staging protests were released later on providing affidavit by their parents. The ring leaders arrested inside the campus have been sent on MPO,” stated the report.