PU hostels raided, 33 outsiders rounded up

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29

As many as 33 outsiders were rounded up during an over three-hour-long first pre-election raid conducted in four boys’ hostels at Panjab University jointly by the security staff and the police in the wee hours today. The raid commenced at 1 am and continued till 4.15 am.

The raiding team was headed by DSP (Central) Ram Gopal. The team included policemen from the Sector 3, 11, 17 and Sarangpur police stations.

The DSP said during the raid, of the 33, 18 outsiders were rounded up under Section 107/151 of the CrPC as they were staying in hostel rooms without taking permission from the university authorities.

The maximum number of outsiders was found in Hostel Nos. 4 and 5 during the raid. Sources said wardens had also lodged a complaint with the authorities about outsiders staying in hostels without paying the guest charges. Acting on the complaint, the police were informed following which the raid was conducted.

The DSP said keeping in view the student elections on the campus, the raid was conducted in all boys’ hostels. He said the documents of all students were verified. The outsiders were rounded up and later let off. The police had been deployed near departments which were “sensitive”, he said.

The police had made a list of students in whose rooms the outsiders were found during the raid. The list would be sent to the university authorities for necessary action. He said more such raids would be carried out in the coming week in the hostels to avoid any untoward incident during the elections.   

PU DSW Navdeep Goyal said the authorities would take action on a case-to-case basis. 

He said there were a few PhD students who were allowed to keep guests in their hostel rooms. The authorities would have to see whether or not they were also covered during this raid, he said.

DSP meets student leaders

The DSP said he held a meeting with leaders of student parties in his office and advised them not to involve themselves in any violent activity during the elections. 

Police hold flag march

A flag march was held on the Panjab University campus by the police on Monday in view of the elections.