A minor dispute over a missing mobile phone at a nursing college’s hostel in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, escalated into a clash between local Telugu students and students from Nagaland and Manipur Saturday.

The situation at the girls’ hostel of S K College of Nursing was brought under control after Collector M N Harendhira Prasad and Superintendent of Police Bindu Madhav intervened Sunday morning, met with the students, and recovered the missing phone.

As a precautionary measure, the administration temporarily shifted students from Northeastern states to a nearby secure facility, while local students were moved to a separate location.

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“A minor dispute between two students has been fully resolved, and the situation is completely under control,” Collector Prasad said. He added that the misunderstanding stemmed from an allegation of theft, but the mobile phone has since been returned to its owner.

Local circle inspector, sub-inspectors from the women’s police station, and district medical and health officer visited the site, spoke with students from both groups, and resolved the issue amicably.

Refuting social media claims, Collector Prasad clarified that rumours regarding the theft of certificates, suspension of fee payments, or expulsion of students are baseless. The college management has been instructed to improve hostel facilities and foster a friendly campus environment.

Addressing safety concerns, SP Madhav urged the public not to share or believe exaggerated social media reports. The administration assured parents that all out-of-state students are completely safe and that their security remains a top priority.