A clash over a missing mobile phone led to a physical altercation between nursing students at SK College of Nursing in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. According to reports, students hailing from Manipur were involved in a violent brawl with local students that reportedly left two from each side injured.
According to local media reports, a student from Manipur staying in the college hostel found her mobile phone missing after she left it plugged in for charging. She lodged a complaint with the Sarpavaram police regarding the same before the device was found. However, a dispute broke out between the students from Manipur and another group over the missing phone, which is said to have caused the fight.
As per one Telugu report, the argument escalated and soon became a serious confrontation, with students from both groups leaving their hostel rooms and clashing on the road. The situation was brought under control after officials intervened, another news report said.
The RDO, trainee Joint Collector, and officials from the health and medical department also arrived at the spot and spoke to the students. They counselled the students and brought the situation under control. As an immediate measure, the authorities shifted the students from Manipur to a separate hostel, AP 7am said in a report.
The respective state governments also got involved after authorities in Manipur received a complaint from students alleging that they had been attacked by Telugu-speaking students. The information was subsequently conveyed to the Andhra Pradesh CMO, who took immediate action.
According to an Andhra Jyothy report, the CMO directed the district collector, DMHO Dr Anita, and the Sarpavaram Police Station SHO to conduct an inquiry. On Saturday night, officials reached the nursing college and questioned students from both groups separately.
