PU restricts outsiders’ entry, beefs up security
Chief security officers Ashwani Kaul (in civil dress) with other PU security staff on Monday. Kamleshwar Singh Chief security officers Ashwani Kaul (in civil dress) with other PU security staff on Monday. Kamleshwar Singh
APPREHENSIVE ABOUT fresh trouble over fee hike, the Panjab University administration on Monday restricted the entry of outsiders to campus amid heavy deployment of Chandigarh Police. The authorities removed all stones meant for beautification outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office.
Since early morning, when the university resumed classwork after four back-to-back holidays, a number of policemen and university officials remained deployed at the entry gates of the campus to check the identity cards of those who entered the university. Only students and staff with proper identity proofs were allowed inside while many without identity cards were asked to return.
PU on Sunday had ordered strict checking on all the entrance gates and asked students and employees to carry and display their valid identity cards to avoid any inconvenience while entering the campus. As students feigned ignorance about the latest order, the wardens were seen asking students about names of the teachers at their departments.
“I think university needs some kind of regulation because a large public remains here all the day. I do not see this as inconvenience but it should have been put in place long back,” said Adarsh Maurya, a law student. “I had forgotten my I-card but proved my identity through some library documents.”
The university administration on Sunday had said a large number of unidentified youths who were not students of the university had engaged in stone-pelting on April 11 and restricted entry to prevent a re-occurrence of the violence. “I think this will also help us manage traffic because some people just want to enter the campus to roam around,” said a university official at gate number 1.
Inside the campus, Chandigarh Police personnel and the university security remained deployed in large numbers at the Students’ Centre, inside the varsity gardens and outside the V-C’s office during the day. A water cannon had also been brought to the campus in fear of protests. Although the day passed off peacefully amid a few silent protests against the fee hike, the heavy security presence inside the campus indicated the fear among officials.
“The security was intensified to check the entry of outsiders inside campus and also there was a call of some delegation as well. We wanted to be alert to avoid any untoward incident,” said Professor Ashwani Koul, chief security officer.
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