5 hurt in PU campus clash

Around five youth sustained injuries after a clash broke out outside Panjab University’s Boys Hostel Number 4 in the early hours this morning.

The incident, which allegedly involved members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), comes in the backdrop of heightened tension on campus in view of a student’s murder at the South Campus.

Sources privy to the developments claimed that the varsity authorities have decided to form a committee to look into Tuesday’s incident. While the police will also investigate the matter, PU authorities are also looking to get a handle on things, a source said.

Police official confirmed that more than seven or eight people were involved in the clash, which left at least five youths with minor injuries. Both groups later reached the Sector 11 Police Station to register their complaints.

Meanwhile, despite the varsity’s claims of no outsiders being allowed entry into the campus, the clash did involve a few outsiders. Two of the injured students, one from Evening Department and another from UIET, required stitches for head injuries.

According to an eyewitness, it was a planned attack by one of the NSUI factions as they also sparred with the security guard when stopped from trying to bring outsiders to the campus. They entered the varsity from Gate No 3 and the security alerted Police Post, Sector 14, with a team reaching the spot a few minutes after the clash.

“Authorities have been stricter after the stabbing incident yet we can see so many non-student faces in each party,” claimed one of the hostellers.

While some sources point to internal rifts within NSUI, the Joint Action Committee (JAC)—currently spearheading a student-led protest at the Student Centre—has issued a strong statement disassociating itself from the incident. Terming the clash a “personal conflict,” JAC alleged that certain individuals are deliberately linking the incident to their peaceful and democratic movement in an attempt to discredit it.

The JAC has lodged a complaint with the police, naming four students — Anmol Shimar, Prashant Chauhan, Ishan Sharma, and Harshul — for allegedly spreading false and defamatory material against the movement, including claims of politicising the death of Aditya, who was recently stabbed on the South Campus.

Chandigarh