PU security up as outsiders try pedestrian route to gain entry

The police have deployed personnel to keep a check on outsiders trying to gain entry into the Panjab University through pedestrian routes, besides keeping an eye on vehicular traffic coming to the campus.

With the campus in the grip of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) poll fever, the law enforcement agencies are strongly enforcing the ban on the entry of outsiders to the campus. As per a new security arrangement, the pedestrian path is guarded by two police personnel and users are allowed to enter the campus only after producing identity card.

“We are dealing with 20-25 outsiders trying to gain entry to the campus through the pedestrian route. They even fail to produce required documents, not to mention identification cards. After we stop them at one gate, we alert personnel at other security points so they don’t use the other gates to enter the campus,” said a woman police personnel, guarding Gate No 2. Of all the gates, this entry sees more users due to its proximity to Sector 15.

“There are people, who have genuine reasons for visiting the campus, but mostly it’s the youngsters who just want to meet their friends in the university. As their vehicles are stopped at the entrance, they park these at the Sector 15 market and try to sneak inside on foot,” said Pushpinder, a security personnel.

The situation at Gate No 1 is no different. The security personnel claimed that many times, outsiders argue with them to gain entry, which leads to traffic chaos. “The university security with the help of Chandigarh Police is managing all gates well. The outsiders using the pedestrian route are simply asked to return and no action is taken against them,” said Vikram Singh, chief of university security, Panjab University.

Students to be sensitised

In the run-up of the PUCSC elections, the authorities have decided to tighten security at the campus. It has been decided that only vehicles registered on the designated online portal will be allowed to enter the university from August 26 onwards—especially on the polling day. The deadline to register vehicles on the portal ended today.

“We are strengthening the security on the campus from Tuesday. Since, the elections are scheduled on September 3, the students will be made aware about the advantages about registering their vehicles. They will be made aware about the helpline number and the students will be encouraged to go for mandatory registration,” added Vikram.

He added that, “While students will be sensitised from Tuesday onwards, no vehicle without online registration will be allowed to enter the campus on September 3,” said the chief of university security.

Extra cover at UILS after heated arguments

Unruly scenes were witnessed at the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) on Monday, when two groups confronted each other after a heated argument. Though the situation was brought under control, the university authorities decided to depute extra security at the department.

The department has a strength of almost 1,100 students and plays a prominent role in the PUCSC elections. “No one was injured, as the police and university security reached the spot on time. However, it has been decided to have an extra layer of security to avoid any untoward incident,” said Vikram.