PU to beef up campus security after violent clash

Chandigarh: Days after a violent clash between two groups of students, in which one received bullet injury, Panjab University today decided to beef up security and restrict the entry of vehicles of outsiders inside the campus.

“Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh has decided to take a number of security measures for beefing up the security and restricting the outsiders entry at the PU Campus. Four wheelers of outsiders shall be completely restricted inside the PU campus,” said an official release.

PU Vice Chancellor approved the recommendations of committee headed by the Registrar, who held a meeting on April 9, a day after the clash between two students’ organisations.

Three persons had sustained injuries, one of them hit by a gun shot, in a clash between two groups of students at Panjab University here on April 8.

The committee decided the entry of visitors’ four wheelers be restricted at gate No 01 and 02.

“Only vehicles with stickers or temporary passes, which can be obtained after necessary verification at the gate be allowed,” the release said.

A thorough inquiry should be conducted into the incident and the guilty students should be rusticated with immediate effect to send out a clear message that these types of incidents would not be tolerated at all, it said.

The release further said a yearly disciplinary committee should also be constituted for taking stern action against the students found indulging in unruly behaviour and anti-social activities, as per recommendation.

Barricades should be put up near the administrative block, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Herbal Garden and Teaching Departments so that the vehicles entering the campus without stickers or necessary passes are restricted, it said.

“The celebration of festivals with DJ-like Holi should be banned near the academic areas. Festivals like Lohri, Diwali, etc should be allowed to be celebrated collectively (and not by individual departments) only at a central place and that too after 5 pm,” it said.

The e-rickshaw services should be implemented by May, it said.

In order to ensure adequate security on the campus, sufficient number of CCTV cameras should be installed at the sensitive places and one centralised surveillance centre/control room should be set up, it said.