7 years on, 68 PU students walk free in rioting case

A local   court has acquitted  68 students  in a  case registered   against them for  protesting outside the   office  of the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University  seven  years  ago.

The FIR was filed on a complaint  of a  security   officer   after students   allegedly   attacked policemen  during the  protest. The police also used  tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who  allegedly  in turn resorted to stone-pelting, leaving 22 cops and some students injured.

Later, the police arrested 52 students, including three women. Sixty-eight persons were booked by name for violence and damaging public property.

After  investigation, the  police filed a chargesheet against the accused under Sections  353, 332 and  147  of the IPC.

Siddhrath  Pandit, the counsel for the  accused students, said the  prosecution   failed   to  prove   charges.  The complainant also did not support the  case.

After hearing of the   arguments, the   court  acquitted   the   students   of the  charges   framed   against them.