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Ammon News - From Mohammad Khawaldeh

AMMONNEWS - A scuffle erupted between a group of students at Mu'tah University in southern Jordan on Sunday, amid reports that a students was stabbed during the clashes.

In details, two groups from two different tribes clashed Sunday afternoon at Mu'tah University in the southern governorate of Karak, less than two weeks after the Higher Education Council suspended classes indefinitely and later resumed them after major acts of violence and vandalism erupted in the university over student elections.

Sunday's clashes witnessed vandalism of university property and the entrance of the Students' Affairs Faculty.

Mu'tah University President Rida Khawaldeh, who was recently appointed following the riots, was reported on the scene inside campus in an attempt to disperse crowds of students that gathered at the site of the incident.

Campus security were able to contain the incident, removing a group of students from campus while detaining another group inside the Students' Affairs building.

A student was reportedly stabbed in the leg during Sunday's clashes and was taken to the University health center. He is reported to be in stable condition, a medical source at the University told Ammon News.

Violent riots had erupted earlier in the month following student elections, and re-erupted again in the following week causing the university to halt classes.

Riots and acts of violence extended well beyond the university campus, evoking several parliamentarians and local leaders to intervene to restore order to the southern governorate.

One Mu'tah student reportedly died during campus riots. The body of 21-year old Fourth year engineering student Osama Dheisat was laid to rest earlier in April.

The forensic post-mortem autopsy report stated that the student died as a result of chronic heart disease, noting that the tear gas used to disperse rioters on campus was not relevant to the student's death.

The Higher Education Council suspended Mu'tah University classes until further notice, citing recurring violence that left over 22 police officers and 8 local resident injured. Classes resumed in the following week.

Local officials said that order was restored in the southern Karak governorate. Public Security Department (PSD) officials noted that an independent investigation committee has been formed to investigate the Mu'tah incidents that witnessed vandalism and damages to public and private property in Karak, including Mu'tah University facilities.

On Saturday, the University administration called in a number of students for questioning in part of its investigation into the riots. Several students were dismissed from the university.

The phenomenon of university violence has reportedly increased in the past two years, raising serious concerns among citizens and pre-occupied public opinion, academics, and columnists. Many clashes erupt across Kingdom universities over student elections.