Group clash turns bloody; student falls to fatal blow

Senior and junior students of a private college clash during which a second year B Com student was killed allegedly over a ‘love affair’

Hyderabad: In one of the ugliest group clashes that the city witnessed so far, a 20-year-old second year B Com student of a private degree college at Koti was killed by another group of the same college on Saturday.

Sources said K Harshavardhan Rao, a resident of Tilak Road, was killed during a quarrel between senior and junior students of Pragati Maha Vidyalaya Degree College.

As per reports, there was a heated argument among seniors and juniors on the college premises and in a fit of rage students attacked each other with knives. In the melee, Harshavardhan was severely injured when Santosh, 23, a third year B Com student of the same college struck him with a heavy blow on the chest. Harshavardhan fell backward, landing on to the floor head-on. Blood sprang out of his head and was immediately rushed to Care Hospital in Nampally where he died while undergoing treatment.

Harshavardhan's death sparked massive protests by his family members and friends on the streets against management and police, demanding strictest action against Santosh, who is reported to be absconding.

Later parents lodged a complaint with the Sultan Bazaar police station. Although a case under Section 302 (Murder) of the IPC has been registered, police refused to divulge any detail as to what triggered the attack.

It has been learnt that a love affair might be the reason behind the attack on Harshavardhan and Santosh reportedly took advantage of the clash, but police preferred to keep mum over the issue. “We registered a case and spoke to other students also. It is still too early to reach a conclusion at this juncture. Efforts are being made to nab the culprit who is still at large,” inspector G Srinivas said.