Mangalore: The students allied with ABVP in the University College in Mangalore, went on strike and stayed away from classes today to impress upon the College authorities, to suspend a lecturer on the charge that he was involved with Popular Front (a Muslim outfit) in organizing anti-social activities in city.

When another set of (Muslim) students requested the College Principal to hold classes as usual, there was a clash among ABVP and the Muslim students, leading to mutual attacks.

Before the situation turned violent and worse, principal Laxminarayana Bhat contacted the Police and removed the protestors out of the College premises.
The Muslim students complained that the ABVP (Hindu) students had threatened them with fatal consequences. The students’ problem arose as follows:

ABVP leader student Guruprasad had earlier complained that lecturer Pattabhirama Somayaji had divided the students into Hindu and Muslim groups to rule so that the students of ABVP did not go against him.

The Muslim students (Siddique and Naseer) had alleged that the ABVP member students were not allowing Muslims to attend classes and learn prescribed lessons. The Hindus laughed at students (girls) wearing burqas (Veils). If the Muslim students contested Union elections they were threatened with ragging and other violent ways, almost every day. The matter went up to the lecturer and the Principal