Chandigarh, Nov 10: Witnessed heightened tension on Monday as students of Panjab University (PU) took to the streets demanding the long pending senate elections. The protests quickly escalated, prompting a strong police response including lathicharge to control crowds and maintain order around the campus.
All major entry points to the university were heavily guarded, with only Gate No. 1 partially open, while the rest remained completely sealed. Additional barricades, buses, and police personnel were deployed to manage the movement of people. Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur personally oversaw security arrangements to ensure strict vigilance during the ‘PU Bandh’ called by various student bodies and political groups.
The agitation was sparked by widespread dissatisfaction over a recent Education Ministry notification on senate restructuring, originally issued on October 28 and later withdrawn. Despite the revocation of the notification, student organizations continue to insist that their demand for timely senate elections be fulfilled.
In response to the unrest, the university declared holidays on Monday and Tuesday (November 10–11) and restricted vehicle entry without proper ID cards or stickers to prevent outsiders from entering the campus.
However, the student body under the banner of Panjab University Bachao Morcha refused to call off the protests, reiterating that their agitation would continue until the senate elections are formally conducted.
University officials, including Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig and Registrar YP Verma, appealed for calm, noting that the process of senate elections has already commenced and the detailed program has been forwarded to the Chancellor and the Vice President of India.