VIJAYAWADA: The ongoing caste feud in Siddartha Engineering College here took a new turn yesterday with students belonging to weaker sections forming Democratic Students Forum and threatening to involve community leaders if normalcy was not restored on the campus.

There were instances of students belonging to weaker sections and an upper caste engaged in attacks and counter attacks during the last few years.

The situation worsened this year with several criminal cases being registered on students belonging to both the groups.

Sub-collector Piyush Kumar, who conducted an inquiry served notices on nine students asking them to mend their ways or face suspension from the college.

Addressing a press conference here, A P Srikanth, a II year student and member of DSF, alleged that weaker section students were being harassed by upper caste students.

''The management had been favouring the upper caste students while victimising us,'' he said.

According to him, they were being abused by caste and upper caste students were terrorising them.

''We have petitioned to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and others. If they fail to take action, we would be forced to involve our community leaders,'' Srikanth said.

However, he added that they want peace on the college campus.

''We want equality and at the same time friendship with students belonging to all communities,'' he added. Several students were also present at the press conference.