Ilam, September 3:

Tensions gripped Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus in Ilam today after cadres of student unions affiliated with different political parties clashed. One student was injured in the clash.

The clash occurred after UML-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students’ Union broke the lockout carried out by other student unions in the office of the Free Students’ Union of the campus.

Maoist-affiliated ANNISU-R, NC-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union and nepal Progressive Students’ Federation (NPSF) had padlocked the FSU office on August 19.

According to ANNFSU’s central member Chhabi Shrestha, ANNFSU cadres broke the lockout in FSU office after the three student unions broke the lockout carried out by FSU in campus chief’s office, putting forth 16-point charter of demands.

Earlier today, the activists of the three student unions had chanted slogans against the FSU members and burnt their effigies, after breaking the lockout in the campus chief’s office.

When the ANNFSU cadres broke the lockout in FSU office in tit-for-tat action, activists of the three unions then vandalised the FSU office. They stoned ANNFSU central member Chhabi Shrestha, former central council member Badri Khadka and district president Basanta Basnet and among others.

Police said they seized a khukuri from Suren Tumrok of ANNFSU. NPSF’s campus unit president Bhupal Sapkota was injured when police rained batons on the clashing students. Sapkota is undergoing treatment in Ilam district hospital.

The Free Students’ Union had been demanding a bar campus’ lecturers from teaching in private colleges and make public the incomes and expenditures of the campus, among others.