Clash between Bihari and Jaat gang exposes Doon’s deteriorating university scenario

HASAN HADI / Dehradun 

A clash is allegedly ongoing between a ‘Bihari gang’ and a ‘Jaat gang’ over maintaining supremacy in a prominent private university in the Premnagar area of Dehradun. In a clash between two groups on Monday night, a student Divanshu Jatrana died during treatment after being beaten by rival gang members.

The violence and death of a student has once again elicited focus on Dehradun deteriorating into a hub of violent hooliganism instead of a centre of higher education as touted by private institutions and the government. This is not the first time when incidents of hooliganism, violence and other criminal activities involving university students have come to light in Dehradun.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the victim’s friends said that some students from Bihar have formed a gang of around 150–200 members. They have been troubling their rivals for a long time. Because of this, Jatrana had not been attending college for the past one month. His friends also said that they had not made any complaint to anyone about this harassment. One of his friends said that the group used to trouble him as well. They would snatch his phone and send messages to Jatrana to find out his location. He last spoke to Jatrana on Monday evening. On the same day, some boys from the Bihari group stopped him in the college and asked about Jatrana, he claimed.

The owner of a restaurant near the scene of the crime said that during the incident, some people came carrying rods and sticks, and some had covered their faces with cloth. A fight broke out between two groups. One group damaged bikes and cars.

Some boys entered his restaurant carrying rods. He asked them to leave, but they refused. When he tried to call the police, one of the boys snatched his phone and ran away. He chased them and somehow managed to get his phone back. The restaurant owner also said that since Monday, members of the so-called gangs have been roaming in the area. People are coming and looking for members of the rival group at regular intervals, he said while adding that the police are also present there to maintain safety.