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clash erupted on Thursday between university students and supporters of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Medan, North Sumatra, which left at least 10 people injured.

Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Dadang Hartanto said the situation was under control and the police were liaising with both groups.

“We are coordinating with both groups to prevent more conflict,” he said on Thursday.

Dadang said the students and the Jokowi supporters were staging separate rallies at the same time in front of the North Sumatra Legislative Council building.

The affray started when Jokowi supporters delivered speeches about the unity of Indonesia, while the student group protested about the country’s poor economic conditions.

Dadang said several students were injured and others arrested after the clash. Two student protesters were detained for allegedly vandalizing a police car.

Wira, the coordinator for the student group, which called itself the Medan University Student Movement Alliance, condemned the police’s actions.

He called on the police to release the detained students.

“We demand the police release our friends who were arrested today,” he said.

Wira said the conflict started between the two separate rallies when an unknown person among the Jokowi supporters threw a piece of wood at the student protesters.

The students denied that their action was driven by rival camps of Jokowi who is seeking reelection next year.

They resumed their protest on Friday under police guard.