A group of Patna University students were allegedly beaten up outside a nationalised bank on Wednesday afternoon following a conflict with residents over jumping queue to the bank counter.

Ashok Rajpath residents were at the Allahabad Bank on the Patna University campus to withdraw money.

Around 2.30pm, they started to protest as some Patna University students tried to jump the line and get their work done first. Women and other youngsters waiting for their turn to withdraw, deposit and exchange money protested, and following tension between the parties, the students were pushed out of the bank premises.

Soon, youngsters from Ashok Rajpath and Ramna Road reached the spot and allegedly assaulted the students. As the news spread like wildfire, students from nearby Patna College rushed to the varsity students' rescue.

The stretch outside Allahabad Bank soon turned into a battlefield as the students and residents continued to attack each other.

"Tension erupted at the bank, as some students tried to cut through the line at the bank," said Ramna Road resident Salman Qadir. "Verbal tussles over bank work have been frequent at the banks and ATMs near the Patna University campus in the Ashok Rajpath area ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation drive last week. But, the brawl turned ugly on Wednesday."

The students, however, denied that they broke the line and insisted they were waiting for their turn like the others.

Anil Kumar, boarder at one of the Patna College hostels, said: "The Allahabad Bank is at the university campus and has been opened to serve the students. But outsiders create disturbance every time."

The situation was brought under control after around 30 minutes following the arrival of Pirbahore police.

"The police brought the situation under control with mild lathi-charge on the students and residents," said sub-inspector Davendra Kumar. "Clash between the students and residents has always been a sensitive issue, but these days, the police are maintaining precaution for the rush at the banks."

Gopal Prasad, a tea stall owner on Ashok Rajpath, said: "Between Gandhi Maidan and NIT roundabout, there are only State Bank of India and Allahabad Bank and in the first three days of demonetisation, there was huge rush. It has lessened in the past two days."

Sources said the number of functional ATMs in Patna has gone up compared to Tuesday, but still many ran out of cash.