Phone theft claim sparks clash at Andhra nursing hostel; Northeast students shifted

A minor altercation erupted at the girls' hostel of S K College of Nursing in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday over a missing mobile phone. The incident involved students from Nagaland and Manipur who were attending the nursing college. The conflict escalated quickly, leading to a clash between local Telugu students and their Northeastern counterparts.

The tense situation was brought under control after the intervention of Collector M N Harendhira Prasad and Superintendent of Police Bindu Madhav on Sunday morning. Both officials visited the hostel, spoke with the students, and managed to recover the stolen phone. As a precautionary measure, the administration temporarily relocated Northeastern students to a nearby secure facility, while local students were moved to a separate area.

According to Collector Prasad, the initial dispute was rooted in an allegation of theft, but the phone was eventually returned to its rightful owner. The misunderstanding was swiftly resolved through the efforts of local law enforcement, including a circle inspector, sub-inspectors from the women's police station, and the district medical and health officer. Social media reports alleging theft of certificates, suspension of fee payments, or expulsions of students were dismissed by Collector Prasad as baseless rumors.

In response to the incident, the college management has been directed to enhance hostel facilities and promote a more harmonious campus environment. Superintendent of Police Bindu Madhav urged the public not to spread or believe in exaggerated social media reports. The administration reassured parents that all out-of-state students are completely safe and that their security remains their utmost priority.