NSUI, ABVP protest security breach inside PU girls’ hostel, demand action
As per details, a man — seemingly under the influence of alcohol — had managed to evade security and gain access to the girls' hostel and was spotted on the third floor.
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ABVP members protest outside PU chief security officer’s office, Friday. (Express Photo) The Chandigarh unit of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and that of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Friday organised a protest at Panjab University(PU) to protest against an incident of major security breach that took place at Kasturba Hall, Girls Hostel 4, in the early hours of Wednesday.
As per details, a man — seemingly under the influence of alcohol — had managed to evade security and gain access to the girls’ hostel and was spotted on the third floor. The man later also allegedly entered into the room of a girl student. A check later had found that the reception of the hostel as well as the checkpoint was unmanned.
Friday’s protest was held in front of PU chief security officer Vikram Singh Chaudhary’s office in the administrative block, with protesters raising slogans against the alleged negligence of authorities that led to the incident.
The president of NSUI’s Chandigarh unit, Sachin Galav said, “There are 11,000 girl students who study at the university. The authorities are still taking this incident lightly. It almost seems like the PU is waiting for a bigger mishap to happen inside the university before they take any sort of action. We have given the authorities two days. If they do not act in the given time we will intensify our agitation.”
Galav added that if security is not being handled properly by the chief security officer, then higher authorities must relieve Chaudhary of his charge and hand it over to someone else. Sources said that at least one security guard had been suspended following Wednesday’s breach.
Elaborating on the need for more security guards inside the campus, Galav said that there were at least 150 vacant posts to which appointments should be made as soon as possible. On Friday, the protesters also handed over a memorendom to the hostel wardens that called for strict action against.
The NSUI president also stated that incidents of eve-teasing and liquor being consumed on the university premises had become quite common. “After the sun sets, people are often found consuming liquor inside cars parked on campus. Drunk people roam inside the campus, play loud songs, and often eve-tease students. Of late, a hookah culture has also started inside the campus,” Galav alleged. He added that students who try to complain are often threatened by the wardens, and their movement restricted. “Every evening I receive complaints from women students about incidents. The authorities continue to sleep as Panjab University becomes unsafe day-by-day.”
ABVP president, Rajat Puri, said, “Wednesday’s incident has raised many concerns. It is beyond imagination how an unknown man managed to gain entry into the girls’ hostel and stayed there for more than 30 minutes without being noticed. Moreover, thefts inside PU are on the rise. At least 23 incidents of thefts of laptops, mobiles, two-wheelers have been reported in the last fortnight from PU.”
Priya, a resident of Girls Hostel 4, said, “We are all concerned about our safety here. We often find men inside the campus staring at us. Hostels are supposed to be safe spaces for women students. However, in PU we live in fear, even inside our hostel rooms.”
Sources said, “The girl student, in whose room the man had entered on Wednesday, has refused to file a complaint in this regard. She has stated that she has completed her course and will leave the hostel on April 30.”
Warden of Hostel Number 4 warden, Tammanna Seharawat, said, “We have checked the CCTV camera footage. The two guards, who were supposed to be present at the gate, were missing. I have forwarded a complaint regarding the same citing criminal trespass.”
The Station Head Officer of Police Station 11, Inspector Jasbir Singh, however, said, “We have been apprised about the incident. We are waiting for an official complaint to be lodged. We will file an FIR after we receive a complaint.”
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