Kakinada nursing college: Clash over stolen phone leaves one injured, campus calm

A clash between students from Andhra Pradesh and the North Eastern region at S.K. College of Nursing in Kakinada city on Saturday (August 22, 2026) left one student injured. The incident occurred after a complaint about a stolen mobile phone was lodged with the Sarpavaram police by a student from the North East region.

Tension had been brewing in the college hostel following the police complaint. The altercation took place when students from Andhra Pradesh learned about the complaint. A girl, who sustained an injury on her head during the clash, was treated at the Government General Hospital in Kakinada and was reported to be stable.

Students from Manipur, who are part of the North Eastern community on campus, reportedly informed their Chief Minister, Yumnam Khemchand, raising concerns about their safety. This prompted intervention from higher authorities in both Manipur and Andhra Pradesh.

Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad and Superintendent of Police G. Bindu Madhav deployed a team of officials to the campus to maintain peace. In a joint statement, Mr. Prasad confirmed that the clash was triggered by the theft of a phone belonging to a Manipur student. He added that the campus returned to normalcy after talks with both groups.

As a precautionary measure, 31 students from Manipur and Nagaland were provided separate accommodation on Saturday night to ensure their safety. The district administration also directed the college management to arrange for separate housing for students from the North East region moving forward.

Further discussions with students are scheduled for Sunday (August 23) to promote harmony and prevent any recurrence. In an audio message, the North Eastern students thanked the officials for their prompt intervention and for addressing their concerns.