PAU students, staff flay police interference in campus activities
An atmosphere of tension gripped Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) campus on Tuesday as a huge police force was deployed on the campus, turning it into a fortress. University employees and students criticised the police presence, calling it unprecedented interference in campus activities.
The reason for deployment of a huge police force on the campus was a protest planned by the PAU Employees Union against the suspension of an employee. The employee was stated to be suspended under political pressure after a confrontation with an AAP leader on the campus. Students and staff demanded that entry of outsiders should be strictly banned on the campus so that no such incidents happen in future leading to such a situation.
Morning walkers, students and faculty were taken aback after seeing the campus turned into a police cantonment with official cars and police vehicles parked on the premises. All high rank officials, including Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain and Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, along a huge police force, comprising anti-riot police personnel, made way to the university early morning.
Most of the entry gates of the PAU were closed on Tuesday morning and morning walkers were returned from gates. Only gate number 2 was open where police were deployed in a large number and the entry was allowed only after verifying the identity of the person. Some students also had to bear the brunt and alleged harassment as they were not allowed to enter the university due to police restrictions. “I was not carrying my ID card and not allowed entry to the campus. Police officials were deployed at the gates and even after checking my bags, I was denied entry as I was not carrying my ID card though the PAU sticker was pasted on my vehicle. Such interference by the police is uncalled for,” said a student from the College of Agriculture.
Baldev Singh Walia, president of the PAU Employees Union, said it was first time in the history of the PAU that a huge police force was deployed on the campus. “Protesting is the right of every employee and nobody can stop us in such a way. The police should not interfere in activities of the university,” he said.
Members of the PAU Teachers Association (PAUTA) have also condemned the incident and said interference of the police and district administration into routine activities was unacceptable. Even faculty was not allowed to enter the campus without checking on Tuesday and it caused harassment to both students and teachers.
“Such incidents occur as outsiders are allowed entry into the campus. There are some people who are not students or employees of the university but are regularly seen on campus. Entry rules should be made strict and nobody should be allowed entry without university identity card. There should be a strict check on the entry of outsiders on the campus to avoid such incidents in future,” said a student.
