A violent confrontation between junior and senior students at Motihari College of Engineering in Bihar left several students reportedly injured on Saturday, 31 October, after a dispute over firecracker bursting near a hostel spiralled into physical assault and vandalism. Police were deployed twice — on Friday night and again on Saturday — to restore order on the campus.

How the Clash Unfolded

The trouble began on Friday night when a group of students burst firecrackers near the junior students' hostel. Fourth-semester students, who were either preparing for or sitting examinations at the time, objected to the noise. According to officials, the objection quickly escalated into an argument and then into open confrontation between the two groups.

Both sides have accused each other of physical assault. Reports of vandalism inside the hostel also emerged during the night. The college administration alerted the police after tensions flared again on Saturday morning, when junior students alleged they were attacked by seniors while staging a protest in front of the college building. Senior students denied the allegation.

Police Response and Counselling

A police team led by Probationary DSP Abhishek Kumar and Mufassil Police Station SHO Amit Kumar, accompanied by armed personnel, reached the campus and brought the situation under control. Officers called students from both groups to a conference hall, heard their grievances, and counselled them to maintain peace.

Before the police arrived, the college administration had attempted to defuse tensions by moving junior students into the academic building while senior students remained outside.

Administration and SP's Response

College Principal Prof. Navneet Kumar clarified that the incident was a student dispute and did not involve ragging. He said the students had been pacified, junior students were sent home, and the hostel was vacated.

Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat confirmed that orders had been issued to register a First Information Report (FIR). He added that the incident would be investigated by the Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and the DSP, and that the role of the college administration would also be examined. Action would be taken if any negligence was found, he said.

Current Situation on Campus

The campus is currently calm, with police maintaining a close watch. Authorities have warned both groups that anyone attempting to disturb peace or escalate the dispute further would face legal action. The dual deployment of police — on consecutive nights — underlines the seriousness with which local law enforcement is treating the episode.

The incident adds to a pattern of campus unrest at engineering institutions across Bihar, where examination pressure and hostel tensions have previously combined to produce flashpoints. The SDM-DSP inquiry is expected to determine whether administrative lapses contributed to the escalation.