Supporters of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) clashed at the Government Polytechnic here on Friday.

They attacked each other with sticks and exchanged blows, prompting police to intervene and bring the situation under control.

Sources said while a group of ABVP supporters was demonstrating at the institution at Dabgram on Thursday over certain infrastructure issues, suspected TMCP supporters had attacked them.

This made the ABVP launch a protest programme in front of Siliguri police station on Thursday. The student outfit of the BJP also announced a strike at the polytechnic on Friday.

ABVP supporters were shouting slogans and preventing students and even some faculty members from entering the polytechnic on Friday morning when TMCP members raised counter-slogans. Soon, a clash ensued.

Avijit Banerjee, a representative of the TMCP, said: “Internal exams are in progress at the polytechnic. The strike call was undesirable and against the interest of the students when the exams were on. The state government is completely against any strike. Today, some students protested their highhandedness and we stood by them."

“We called a strike to protest the atrocities of the TMCP. Yesterday, they beat up two of our supporters and today again, they attacked us. Police personnel were present at the spot but didn’t restrain them. We will continue our movement,” said Subhabrata Adhikary, a leader of ABVP based in Siliguri.

Police officers said there had been some tension between the two groups. “Our personnel were present at the spot. They intervened and could restore normality in the area,” said an officer.