Jahangirnagar University, Aug 02 (UNB) - BCL activists blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway after police arrested a fellow BCL man over stabbing a Jahangirnagar University student on the campus on Wednesday night.

Fahmidul Islam Likhon, a Master's degree student and activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) JU unit, received multiple stab wounds as he came under attack by a gang of unknown assailants at the Central Playground of the university at about 10 pm.

Critically injured, Likhon was rushed to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar town where he was operated upon at midnight.   

As the news spread around, several hundred students of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall, Bangabandhu Hall, Al Beruni Hall, Kamaluddin Hall and Bhasani Hall, came out of their respective dormitories and brought out a procession which paraded different streets of the campus, including that in front of the VC`s residence demanding immediate arrest and punishment of Likhon`s attackers.

They also held a protest rally at Mahua Chattar after midnight.

Meanwhile, police arrived at the campus and raided Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall suspecting that Likhon`s attackers were hiding there.

Police arrested two BCL activists one of them was identified as Nahid, 39th batch Honors student, from Mir Mosharraf Hall suspecting that they were involved in knifing Likhon, a resident Bangabandhu Hall.

As police attempted to leave the campus along with the arrestee a group of BCL activists opened fire on the cops in a futile attempt to snatch the arrestees from them prompting retaliation by thelaw-enforcers triggering a gunfight which lasted for over 20 minutes. Witnesses said at least 12 gun fires were heard during the melee.

Finally, police fired rubber bullets to drive back the armed BCL activists, leaving at least five students injured. They were admitted to a local clinic.

Police called reinforcement and took the arrestees to police station.

Angered by the arrests, several hundred students, mostly BCL supporters, came out of the campus in a procession and vandalised many passing vehicles, including buses and trucks, on Dhaka-Aricha highway. At one stage, they blocked the busy highway creating huge traffic jam both sides. 

However, the road blockade, which lasted for one-and-half-hour from 1 am, was removed after police swung into action wielding clubs and drove the road blockers out of the highway after 2 am.

Police patrolled the campus as tension prevailed.