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An assistant proctor and two teachers were among 12 men who were injured  during a clash between factions of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, at Jagannath University on Tuesday.

The clash happened reportedly between the supporters of the ‘Baset group’ and the ‘Sumon Sardar group’.

Clashes erupted around midday in three spots—near the university’s Second Gate, the Central Shaheed Minar premises, and in front of the office of the Islamic studies department chairman, hurting at least nine students, the assistant proctor and two teachers.

The injured students were marketing department’s Samiuddin Sajid, Al-Amin, Ashraful, Pratyay, Ibrahim, Jony and Zahid; political science department’s student Sadi; and Bangla department’s student Sabbir.

Assistant proctor Dr Md Nayeem Akhter Siddiqui, and teachers Ferdous Hossain and Mahadi Hasan Jewel, were also reportedly hurt while trying to intervene a reconciliation meeting that was under way at the Islamic studies department chair’s office.

Witnesses said that the altercation stemmed from a personal dispute that began the previous day on a bus when Sadi allegedly threatened Sajid and his friends that he would ‘hang them at the Second Gate.’

On Tuesday, when Sajid was standing near the Second Gate with friends, Sadi and his associates, including student leaders Mashfiq and Ashraful, suddenly attacked them.

Al-Amin, Pratyay, Ibrahim, and Zahid who came to their rescue were also reportedly assaulted.

One eyewitness, who wished not to be named, recounted that ‘Sajid was talking to a senior leader when Sadi’s followers attacked him from behind. Senior activists who tried to intervene were also beaten.’

During the second fight near the university’s Shanto Chattar area, Al-Amin sustained facial injuries after being struck with a chair.

The situation further escalated into a third round of clash inside the office of Professor Md Rais Uddin, chairman of the Islamic studies department where a mediation effort was under way, injuring several more students.

Speaking to reporters, a JCD joint convener, who requested anonymity, admitted, ‘Some of those who attacked Sajid are from our own organisation. I tried to stop them but couldn’t—they acted as if they were above any organisational rule.’

Marketing student Sajid stated, ‘Sadi threatened me yesterday on the bus and even came looking for me in the dormitory. Today he returned with 15–20 men and attacked us.’

Another JCD joint convener Sumon Sardar dismissed the violence as politically motivated, claiming, ‘It was merely a misunderstanding between students from two departments over an incident involving a university bus.’

University unit JCD convener Mehedi Hasan Himal said, ‘We were present at the scene and tried to control the situation. Later, we sat with teachers and reached an initial understanding.’

JnU proctor Tazammol Hoque said, ‘What began as a departmental clash turned into a large-scale confrontation.’

Forming a probe committee was under way, he added.

‘Necessary actions will be taken after investigation,’ he added.