"Students agitated due to police inaction," says Pawan Bansal amid LPU protests
Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal slams police and Punjab government for failing to act, leading to student agitation at Lovely Professional University.
Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal has lashed out at the police and the Punjab administration, claiming that a lack of timely action by law enforcement triggered the recent unrest at Lovely Professional University (LPU). Speaking on the escalating situation, Bansal emphasized that the students' frustration stemmed directly from the authorities' failure to respond to initial complaints.
Congress Slams Punjab Government and Police
The senior Congress leader described the situation at the university campus as a serious matter that required immediate and sensitive handling. According to Bansal, the agitation was a predictable outcome of police negligence.
"In this particular incident, the police bear significant responsibility. If an incident occurs and a complaint is filed, the police should act immediately. The students became agitated because the police failed to take action," Bansal told ANI.
Bansal did not stop at criticizing the police; he also directed his fire at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. He alleged that despite their grand promises, the administration has failed to maintain order and is instead preoccupied with propaganda. He urged the government, the university administration, and the police to approach the grievances of the students with much-needed sensitivity.
The Night of Unrest: Vandalism and Fire
The tension at LPU reportedly began during the intervening night of September 26 and 27. According to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the unrest was fueled by "late-night rumours" regarding certain incidents on campus, which led to a massive gathering of students.
The situation turned volatile, resulting in:
- Acts of vandalism across the campus.
- An attempt to set fire to a portion of a university gate.
- Large-scale student gatherings protesting against the university administration.
Police Response and SIT Investigation
DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that senior officers, including the DIG of Jalandhar Range and the SSP of Kapurthala, were deployed to the scene to manage the crisis. He maintained that the police consciously chose to use minimal force, opting for dialogue to bridge the gap between the students and the university management.
One of the primary demands raised by the protesting students was the mandatory presence of female staff in the girls' hostels. To address the underlying issues, the police have taken several steps:
- FIR Registered: A formal First Information Report has been filed regarding the incidents.
- SIT Formed: A high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to conduct a thorough probe.
- CCTV and Evidence Review: Authorities are examining CCTV footage, specifically looking at men spotted near the women's hostel.
The DGP also noted a suspicious discovery of walkie-talkies on campus, leading investigators to look into the potential involvement of outsiders in instigating the trouble. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found guilty, regardless of their status or position.
In his closing remarks, DGP Yadav appealed to the public and the media to refrain from spreading unverified rumours and to rely only on authentic sources to prevent further escalation of tension.