A group of students of Government Titumir College went on rampage in Mohakhali and vandalised several adjacent hotels and restaurants this afternoon.

The incident had caused a huge traffic halt on the Mohakhali-Gulshan road.

Locals and witnesses said two of the students, living in the college hostels, went to a nearby restaurant for lunch and locked in brawl with the hotel staff over bill payment.

Local customers, going to buy iftar items, also joined the hotel staff to beat the duo for wasting time and "not paying the bill".

On information, 40-50 students from the college hostels rushed to the spot and went on rampage vandalising 16-17 hotels and restaurants, and at least eight vehicles, they said.

"Chase and counter chase between the students and local residents in Mohakhali took place in this connection," confirmed Bhuiyan Mahbub Hasan, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station.

Police, however, brought the situation under control soon, he said, adding that reasons behind the incident could not be known immediately.

Contacted, Chhatra League President Kazi Mirajul Islam Dollar of the college unit said few local people snatched money from one student.

"When students went to protest, locals gathered and engaged in chase and counter-chase with them," he said.

He knew nothing about "not paying bill" incident in the restaurant.

He claimed policemen "shoot rubber bullets" on the students, leaving at least three injured.