M A I N   N E W S

VC orders closure of Punjabi varsity
Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 28
The Punjabi University authorities today closed the university for an indefinite period and asked students to vacate the hostels, alleging that senior police officials, including the district police chief, had not responded to their distress calls.

The university spokesman, Dr B.S. Sandhu, said tonight that the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Swarn Singh Boparai, had taken the decision to close the university indefinitely.

He said students who had been suspended yesterday for heckling the Vice-Chancellor and whose entry had been banned were allowed to resort to “goondaism” with the police not taking any action in the matter. He said tonight the same students had spread the rumour that several girl students residing in the hostels had been suspended. This led to the gathering of students in front of the hostel and later gheraoing the residence of the Vice-Chancellor.

Dr Sandhu said student leader Gurnam Singh Virk had said at the rally that he had spoken to the SSP, Mr P.S. Umaranangal, who had assured him that he would arrange a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor. Dr Sandhu said the university authorities had contacted the SSP, DIG and the IG but no one had responded to their pleas.

The university had called in Punjab Police commandos in the face of continued agitation by students protesting against the hike in fee.