7 students arrested as rival groups clash in Guntur college

Vijayawada: In a shocking incident linked to a college rivalry, the Chebrolu police arrested seven engineering students for allegedly attacking a youth with sticks, iron rods and chains near Vigyan University during a college fest.According to the police, the incident stemmed from an earlier dispute. Hemanth, a student of Vigyan University, was allegedly harassed by Sriram, a fellow student. Disturbed by the harassment, Hemanth informed his friend Bharat, a resident of Chundur village and a student of Nagarjuna University. Bharat reportedly called Sriram and warned him not to trouble Hemanth.Nursing a grudge over the warning, Sriram and his associates allegedly plotted revenge. On Feb 5, when Bharat visited Vigyan University during the university fest, the accused — students pursuing BTech at VVIT and Vigyan University — allegedly lured him to an isolated spot near the Chikoo gardens opposite the campus. There, they reportedly assaulted him with sticks, iron rods and chains. The attackers also recorded the assault and circulated the video on social media, triggering outrage.Acting on the incident, Chebrolu police launched a swift investigation. The accused were arrested from agricultural fields along Water Tank Road, within the Narakodur village limits, on Wednesday.The arrested individuals were identified as Dara Parimal Rihan (Lucky), Velisetty Adarsh Babu, Naka Soma Shekhar, Rapolu Tirupati Rao, Nandam Bala Koteswara Rao, Throvagunta Bala Sairam, and Kotha Sai Amarnath. Police seized two sticks and a nunchuck allegedly used in the attack.Guntur SP Vakul Jindal cautioned youth against resorting to violence, warning of strict action against those disturbing public peace.