Kozhikode: Chevayur Police on Sunday arrested five students from the JDT Islam Institute of Commerce and Technology (ICT) in Vellimadukunnu, Kozhikode, following a clash between two student groups. The apprehended students have been remanded in police custody. The altercation originated from an Instagram post by a student of the JDT Islam College of Arts and Science.

The post featured several students from the Arts College posing in front of the ICT gate. In the comments section, ICT students were challenged and dared to step in front of the Arts College gate. In response, a group of ICT students went to the gate, leading to a clash with the Arts College students. The situation was eventually de-escalated when teachers arrived at the scene.

"They were final-year students of the Arts College, and we had sent them off after completing their classes before the final exams. Later in the day, another fight broke out in the evening outside the campus, which led to the arrests," said Dr Maqbool, Principal of the Arts and Science College.

Following the incident, the college authorities suspended P T Mohammed Mujtaba, a third-year BA Multimedia student from the Arts College, pending an inquiry. CCTV footage reportedly showed him initiating the fight.

Later that night, both student groups met at a tea shop near the campus, but the meeting resulted in another altercation, said Sub-Inspector Nimin K. According to the FIR, Rifas, Shahin, Nihal, Yasir, and Aijas Ahammed were arrested based on a complaint filed by Ahmmed Mujtaba, another student from the Arts College who was injured in the clash.

Ahmmed claimed that 13 ICT students attacked him and that Rifas, the first accused, injured his eyes and face with a vehicle key. The police are currently searching for eight other individuals involved in the clash.