HYDERABAD, Feb 24: Seven vehicles, including point buses, were burnt and 19 others were damaged a mob went on rampage at the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam (SAUT) on Saturday following the death of a student and SPSF activist.

Majid Rajput, 25, a final year student of crop protection department and a victim of February 20 campus clash between the activists of the Jeay Sindh Students Federation and Sindh People’s Students Federation (Shaheed Bhutto), died in the Hyderabad Civil Hospital's intensive care unit on Saturday after remaining there for four days.

As soon as news of his death reached Tandojam, hundreds of furious residents took to the streets, blocked Hyderabad-Tandojam road and barged into SAUT administration block and garage. They also burnt tyres on Tando Jam-Mirpurkhas road.

State Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ghulam Mohammad Malkani was attending a seminar on mango in a hall. Its doors were closed and the minister, professors, students and journalists remained confined to the hall.

A heavy contingent of police and rangers rushed to the spot later. Witnesses said that security guards of the university resorted to aerial firing to disperse the mob.

Violence broke out at 10 am and continued till around 1 pm.

At least three people were injured in the violence but it could not be ascertained whether they belonged to the university or not. Edhi sources said injured Khan Mehmood was taken to the Hyderabad Civil Hospital. One Farhan, who received bullet injuries, was also taken to the hospital but was later discharged. Another injured man, Zaheeruddin, was admitted to the surgical ward.

Panic gripped entire town of Tandojam as main bazaars and shops were closed. Traffic remained suspended for several hours until police restored it.

Furious residents, including activists of the SPSF-SB, smashed windowpanes of a bank, flower pots and the reception of the administration block.

The torched vehicles included cars of professors, university staff and growers, including one belonging to Sindh Abadgar Board president Abdul Majeed Nizamani and two motorcycles.

DPO Ali Ahmed Junejo said that two people, university security in-charge Ahmed Mangi and Shahid Bhutto, one of the nominated accused in February 20 clash case, had been arrested. The Tandojam police had registered a case against seven activists of the JSSF: Shahnawaz Bhutto, Khalil Soomro, Asif Chandio, Nadir Soho, Mukhtiar Chandio, Jalil Junejo and Farrukh Pathan -- under sections 324, 384, 147 and 148, PPC.

According to the DPO, TPO investigation (urban) Syed Amir Abbas Shah and TPO (Tandojam) Mohammad Ali Baloch were also injured after they were hit by sticks.

DIG police (operations) Shaukat Shah arrived at the university where Rangers were also present. They went into a closed door session with Vice-Chancellor Dr B. A. Sheikh and a university official, Khalid Murad.

A pall of gloom hung over Mir Colony where hundreds of people had gathered outside the residence of Majid Rajput. Hyderabad District Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput also reached there to condole with the bereaved family.

Talking to journalists, Shahid Rajput blamed university administration for patronising and supporting extortionists. He held Ahmed Mangi, the security in-charge, responsible for the February 20 incident, saying that he had let the attackers flee after they smashed the head of his brother with a blunt object.

He denied that Majid had affiliation with any political party, including the Pakistan People’s Party-SB. However, PPP-SB leader Ameer Bux Umrani with a group of party activists reached Mir colony. “Majid was one of our brave party workers. JSSF activists have decided not to let anyone study in a peaceful atmosphere. Now they are trying to give the incident the colour of an ethnic riot to save their skin”, Umrani told Dawn.

The DPO suspended Tandojam SHO Basheer Sarki and SP (investigation) Khalid Mustafa Korai suspended its investigation in-charge Paryal Solangi.

Meanwhile, the SAUT authorities told Dawn that the university would remain opened.