Protest at Panjab University, Chandigarh, was intensified on Monday. A scuffle broke out between the Police officials and student. Protesting students broke the barricades at Gate No. 1 in front of the PGI after a scuffle broke out with the police. Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur climbed the gate to stop them, but the students refused.
The Panjab University campus turned into a fortress on Monday as student organisations and employee unions observed a “PU Bandh,” demanding the immediate announcement of long-pending senate elections. Police deployment was intensified across the university, with barricades at all major entry points and restricted movement inside the campus.
Earlier, students had broken through this same gate and entered, leading to a scuffle with the police. Police have detained some protesters at Gate No. 2. More security officials have been called to guard the gate.
Chandigarh PU Protest follows days of discontent after the Centre’s controversial notification on October 28 that sought to restructure the university’s governance system by replacing elected members of the senate and syndicate with nominees.
Although the Centre withdrew the notification on November 7 following sustained opposition, student groups said the rollback was “not enough” and vowed to continue their agitation until the election schedule is officially released. “We will not end our protest until the democratic functioning of the university is fully restored,” said a student leader participating in the bandh.
The move was seen by many as an attempt to curb the university’s autonomy, sparking widespread protests from teachers, students, and alumni.
As student organisations and employee unions observed a “PU Bandh,” demanding the immediate announcement of long-pending senate elections, Police deployment was intensified across the university, with barricades at all major entry points and restricted movement inside the campus.
The bandh call, supported by several student and teachers’ bodies, came amid growing frustration over the delay in holding the senate elections, the core representative body of the university whose term ended last year. The protestors accused the authorities of deliberately stalling the process despite repeated assurances that polls would be held soon.
