Verbal altercation over language turns into Clash at Amritsar College; Over 6 Injured

May 14, 2026

A dispute erupted between two groups of students at Khalsa College in Amritsar over the use of the Bhojpuri language. The situation escalated to the point where a physical altercation broke out between the students, resulting in injuries to more than six individuals. One student is reported to be in critical condition.

The injured students have been admitted to a hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Upon receiving information about the incident, the police arrived at the scene and have initiated an investigation into the matter. Security arrangements within the college campus have been significantly tightened.

Meanwhile, students from Bihar allege that, following the clash, the college administration confined them to their hostel, effectively locking them inside their respective rooms. They claim they were warned that anyone stepping outside would face a fine and would be expelled from the college. However, the college administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding this matter. The students have warned that they intend to stage a protest demonstration.

Dispute Over Speaking Bhojpuri Inside the Mess

According to reports, the incident occurred around 9:30 PM in Block C of the Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology. The dispute began over the use of the Bhojpuri language during a conversation inside the college mess. Rishabh Niranjan, a B.Tech (CSE) student, stated, “We—a group of students from Bihar had gone to the mess to have dinner and were conversing amongst ourselves in Bhojpuri.”

“At that moment, a group of Kashmiri students approached us and asked, ‘Why are you speaking like this here? This kind of behavior will not be tolerated here.’ This led to a brief verbal argument, following which the Kashmiri students initiated a physical assault. We subsequently fled the scene to save our lives. During this ordeal, my colleague and I sustained severe injuries, and one student has slipped into a coma due to a brain hemorrhage.”

He further alleged that the college administration is failing to support them and appears to be siding with the Kashmiri students, presumably because the latter are financially well-off. “We have been locked inside the hostel, whereas the Kashmiri students are being summoned to the administrative office for discussions,” he claimed.