Entry of outsiders goes unchecked as PU faces shortage of security staff

Entry of non-students goes unchecked on the university campus, especially late at night, when there is just one guard deputed at each hostel. For over 15,000 students residing on the campus, of whom about 40 per cent are boys, there are just 240 security personnel. They are deployed at different places across the campus.

The university is short of around 150 security personnel.

According to sources, more than 150 personnel are needed. The same number of personnel was required in 2008 when there were fewer students and buildings than what are today.

For the 24-year-old youth, who died in a hostel yesterday, no entry was marked in the guest register. It is not tough for an outsider to sneak into the eight boys’ hostels and reside there. With a large number of non-residents and outsiders visiting the hostel mess for food, an intruder can easily be missed by the security staff. “The guard stationed at each hostel is supposed to take care of other things as well, like switching on and off the water motor and guarding the premises at night. During this time, outsiders may sneak into hostels,” said a PU security guard.

Moreover, visitors can enter the campus through the three gates of the campus, especially by two-wheeler riders. “It is not possible to check the identity cards of everyone during the daytime. The university has more than 200 colleges affiliated to it and many students from these institutions come to the campus for various tasks,” a senior university official said.

Vehicles, which are stopped for checking identity cards during the night, are generally SUVs.