Seven engineering students arrested in West Bengal

Kolkata, Nov 6 (IANS) Seven students of the Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) at Shibpur in West Bengal's Howrah district were arrested Thursday after a clash between two student groups over upcoming college elections, the police said.

The arrests were made after a pitched battle between members of the Students Federation Of India (SFI), which is affiliated to the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), and the Independent Consolidation (IC), district Superintendent of Police N.K. Singh told reporters.

Police used batons to disperse the clashing students and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was called to control the situation, Singh added.

According to a BESU official, some members of the two groups, who stay at the same hostel, had a verbal quarrel Wednesday night.

'It soon turned into a scuffle. The scuffle broke out again Thursday morning. More members of the student groups from outside joined the clash and the situation worsened,' the official said.

BESU registrar Biman Bandopadhyay said students have been asked to vacate the hostel.