Proctor Khorshed Alam of Barishal University said that Amit Hasan Raktim and Maidur Rahman -- supporters of State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk -- and Mohiuddin Ahmed Sifat and Syed Rumman — supporters of Barishal City Corporation mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah -- had been at loggerheads over establishing dominance on the campus for long.

As a sequel to the enmity, the supporters of two BCL factions had heated arguments in the early hours of Wednesday. The same turned violent when members of the two groups attacked each other, leaving seven people, including Maidur, Mohiuddin and Rumman, injured.

The injured were taken to a local hospital, university authorities said.

On information, police rushed to the campus and brought the situation under control. "No one has been arrested," a police officer said.