11112025-CT-01.qxd 11/11/2025 12:57 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune HC QUESTIONS OUTSOURCING OF MC TASKS IN SEC 26 MANDI LUCKY PATIAL GANG MEMBER NABBED AFTER SHOOTOUT Lucky Patial gang member Ranbir Rana was arrested after he got injured in a brief encounter with the police. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 27°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 10.2°C DELHI DANCES TO TUNES OF AKON’S BIGGEST HITS The HC has questioned whether basic MC functions such as sanitation, repair work can be outsourced by the UT. P3 FORECAST Global music sensation Akon swayed fans with his biggest hits from Smack That to Chammak Challo in Delhi. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 5.29 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.45 AM » TUESDAY | 11 NOVEMBER 2025 | CHANDIGARH /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE CAMPUS STORMED, PU ON THE BOIL Nitin Jain Heavy police curbs trigger political outcry; protest to continue Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 10 Panjab University today witnessed one of the largest and most unprecedented student mobilisations in recent memory. The agitation only intensified, with thousands of students — supported by politicians, farmers, Nihangs and leaders from social, religious and civil society groups — staging continuous protests across the campus against the Centre’s move on restructuring of the Senate and Syndicate. PU remained under an extraordinary security blanket, with sealed gates, barricaded borders and traffic diversions that caused major inconvenience across neighbouring sectors. The Tribune broke the story about the intended overhaul of the university, triggering cascading political reactions and campus unrest. By early morning, the university had turned into a nearfortified zone. Police lines stretched from Gate 1 to Gate 3, multiple internal routes were shut, and mounted police, anti-riot units and women constables formed concentric rings at entry points. Officials confirmed that over 2,700 personnel — one of the highest ever deployed at OUTRAGE, SUPPORT FLOOD SOCIAL MEDIA ■ @pustudentscollective:“Campus feels like a fortress. Barricades everywhere. But the protest will continue.” ■ @alumni_voice: “PU belongs to the region, not one state. Stop politicising the university’s identity.” ■ @citywatchdog: “Traffic snarls across Sectors 14, 15, Madhya Marg. Barricades choking movement since morning.” HOW CRISIS BUILT UP ■ Dec 2024: Manish Tewari flags ■ Nov 1-7: Fierce backlash; Centre Senate election delay in Lok Sabha. ■ Jan 2024: Election process expected to begin; no movement. ■ Mid-2025: Rumblings of restructuring; anxiety rises. ■ October 30: Centre notifies sweeping restructuring of PU; Senate trimmed from 91 to 31, Syndicate made a nominated, election-free body. ■ November 1: The Tribune breaks the overhaul story, triggering political firestorm. issues four notifications within a week amid protests. ■ November 5-7: Centre rescinds the controversial restructuring order. ■ November 10: Mega “PU Bandh” protest erupts; borders sealed, clashes break out. ■ November 10 evening: Students declare indefinite dharna until the original Senate structure is reinstated through a formal election notification. WHY THE ISSUE ESCALATED ■ Centre’s restructuring seen as altering PU’s federal balance. ■ Two-year delay in Senate elections created mistrust. ■ Perceived lack of consultation fuelled student anger. ■ Punjab-Haryana political claims intensified sentiment. ■ Heavy police deployment turned dispute into a rights issue. WAY FORWARD ■ Students seek rollback and immediate Nihangs return after taking part in the Panjab University Bachao Morcha protest outside the VC office on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI PU — were stationed across the campus. Water cannons remained on standby. Students alleged that the police pushed back groups near the Arts Block and restricted movement in the Academic Area. Several pro- testers were taken away by the police but let-off later to join the protest. “It felt like a lockdown. Every road had barricades,” said a student. Police officials defended the clampdown as necessary to maintain law and order, Senate election schedule. ■ Haryana group demands formal recognition of shared stake. ■ VC urges calm and constructive and prevent the “outsiders” from turning the protest unruly. But their argument collapsed by midday. engagement. ■ Political leaders want Chancellor’s intervention. ■ Only a clear, time-bound consultative roadmap may defuse the standoff. Senior BJP leader and former MP Satya Pal Jain, after meeting Vice-President and PU Chancellor C.P Radhakr. ishnan, said he had conveyed student anxieties and stressed that any structural Continued on page 2 Tension as cops use mild force Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Discussion: On book ‘Raen Bhayee Chaun Des’, Punjabi translation of ‘Dusk Over the Mustard Fields’ written by Ranjit Pavar, with Nirupma Dutt as moderator; from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Press Club, Sector 27-A Baithak programme: Pracheen Kala Kendra will present a sitar recital by Pt Asim Chowdhury at ML Koser Auditorium, Sector 35, 6:30 pm APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sectors 68 and 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur tries to pacify protesters at Gate Number 1. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI Police struggle to contain violent protest Sheetal 4 cops hurt as protesters breach barricades Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 10 The UT police faced a massive challenge as violent clashes broke out near the Panjab University (PU) gates, where hundreds of leaders and activists had gathered to support the student protest over the delay in Senate elections. A number of students, trying to forcibly enter the campus at Gate No. 1 and 2, were taken to the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) Complex in Sarangpur, and let-off later to join the protest. As many as 2500 personnel of the UT police were deployed at the PU gates and inside the campus. Around 150-200 were called from Punjab Police. The police had been deployed since 5:30 am, with the campus sealed and barricaded from all sides. However, despite this tight security, protestors forced open Gate No. 1, breaking locks and overpowering the police. As students pushed through, three to four policemen sustained injuries, while a stampede-like situation erupted at the gates—many protesters lost their shoes, caps and personal belongings. Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur said, “We were mindful of the students and ensured that no tear gas, water cannons or excessive force was used. In protests of this nature, tensions can escalate quickly, especially with multiple stu- dent groups and ideological organisations involved. Some Kisan Unions also joined the protest. Many PU students also joined the unions, and the demonstration remained fully contained without any acts of violence. No one was injured or harmed, despite the large number of participants. Students who were temporarily held in buses at IRB Sarangpur were not detained but managed in a controlled manner to prevent clashes and later allowed to join the protest peacefully.” Continued on page 2 Chandigarh, November 10 After a massive show of strength, the protesters supporting the Panjab University Bachao Morcha announced to gather again, if their demand for the release of Senate poll notification is not met by the authorities. Tense moments were witnessed on the campus as leaders and activists of various organisations tried to forcibly enter the campus in the afternoon. The police used mild force on them. The Tribune broke the story about the intended overhaul of the university, triggering cascading political reactions and campus unrest. A peaceful protest that started in the morning turned violent as leaders and farmer activists forcibly entered the campus in the afternoon. However, the situation was controlled soon. While the students announced that they would continue their protest, the organisations, who supported the “PU Bandh”, left the campus by late evening. “The protest will continue, and the representatives of other organisations will join us in the cause until the senate election notification is issued,” said a protesting student. In the morning, the police The police use mild force on a protester at the university. barricaded the entry points and set up checkpoints on outside roads. The police resorted to using canes on protesters, including activists from Sikh organisations and farm unions, who were trying to forcibly enter the campus. Meanwhile, soon after today’s protest, students representing Haryana in the university politics announced that they would make a representation to the Vice Chancellor. While the representatives of the Haryana Students’ Association (HSA) said they would meet the VC, the INSO leaders claimed that the university belonged to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Sources claimed, after today’s protest, regional differences had emerged on the campus and the authorities were planning to calm down the situation. UNRULY SCENES From ‘Save Panjab University, Save Senate’ to ‘Raj Karega Khalsa’ — today’s call for “PU Bandh” ended up with Continued on page 2 Leaders raise Punjab’s claim on Union Territory Deepankar Sharda MONITORING SITUATION: VC Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 10 The stage of the Panjab University Bachao Morcha was taken over by Punjab leaders and social activists demanding the state’s right on Chandigarh and the democratic rights of the university students. They raised slogans against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Centre, and the Punjab Government, reviving the memories of the farmer protest. The Tribune broke the story about the intended overhaul ❝ The university administration is closely monitoring the situation. The PU deeply respects students' right to express opinions in a democratic manner, but it is equally important to ensure that academic activities continue smoothly. — Prof Renu Vig, PU VICE-CHANCELLOR ❞ of the university, triggering cascading political reactions and campus unrest. However, the leaders were tight-lipped when questioned about the ban on student elections in Punjab. “This is not a platform to dis- cuss this issue, neither do I want to comment. We are fighting for the Senate elections, which has nothing to do with the student elections in Punjab,” said an MLA, who did not want to be named. His associates said, “In the absence of the Senate elections, the Panjab University authorities have committed many wrongdoings. After the elected Senate comes to power, we will expose everything.” When asked the same question to a farmer union representative, Amarjit Singh replied: “Whenever our union gives a call to gather at a place, we reach there. No one can take back Punjab’s right.” The students in the state are pressing for their ‘democratic rights’, seeking elections on the lines of the Panjab University Campus c m y b Students Council (PUCSC) and student unions elections in Chandigarh. The state has a large number of colleges affiliated to PU in Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. In 2018, the then Punjab Government decided to reintroduce the student elections in the state after a gap of 34 years. However, the decision is yet to be implemented. In 1984, the state government had banned the student union elections due to militancy and law and order situation. “To conduct the student Continued on page 2 A gathering at the Panjab University Bachao Morcha protest outside the VC office. PARDEEP TEWARI