Cops use force against students
Akashdeep Virk
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 13
Amid the ongoing ‘Punjab Vision 2047’ conclave on the Panjab University campus, where Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was speaking, students protesting against the delay in elections to Senate were today thrashed and the police had to resort to mild lathicharge. As many as 10 students were injured in the altercation.
The protesters, under the banner of ‘Panjab University Bachao Morcha’ were taking out a march on the campus and reached near the Law Auditorium, where Mann was addressing the gathering. The students had started their protest march from outside Vice-Chancellor’s office, where they have been protesting for the past over 20 days now. The incident happened near the Student Centre, in the parking area opposite the Law Auditorium when the protesters diverted from their planned route and tried moving towards the conclave. “The protesters had not taken any permission to come near the venue. No barricading was done around the auditorium and we had to stop them for which minor force had to be used,” a police official said.
After the incident, the protesters were joined by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) members at the Student Centre, where they raised slogans against the state government, VC and the police.
Commenting on the incident, Karan, a student who was part of the group which was stopped by police force, said, “This shows the condition of democracy here. We were not even allowed near the venue where CM Mann was present. We, mere students of this university, were treated like anti-social elements by the police, which is absolutely condemnable.”
The police have not registered any FIR regarding the incident, nor any protester has been detained.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have reacted strongly to the incident where Chandigarh Police used minor lathicharge against students when they tried to reach the venue where Mann was speaking. Condemning the incident, Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa targeted the CM on X and wrote, “Ironically, while students were being caned, CM Mann was discussing ‘Vision 2047’ for Punjab.” Later, Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi reached the campus to meet the protesters in the evening and expressed solidarity with them.
