Students of Panjab University took to the streets demanding the long-pending senate elections making it a tense Monday in Chandigarh. The protests escalated in no time and prompted a strong police response of lathicharge to control the crowd and maintain order around the campus.
All major entry points to the university were heavily guarded. Only Gate no. 1 was half open, and all the rest were completely sealed off. More barricades, buses, and police were deployed to control the movement of people.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur herself took stock of security arrangements at the significant entry points to ensure extra vigil in view of ‘PU Bandh’ called by various student bodies and political organizations.
#WATCH चंडीगढ़: पंजाब विश्वविद्यालय के छात्रों ने सीनेट चुनाव की मांग को लेकर बड़े पैमाने पर विरोध प्रदर्शन किया। pic.x.com/BJkw5Oa344
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) November 10, 2025
The protests were sparked by widespread discontent over a recent Education Ministry notification on senate restructuring. This was originally issued on October 28 and later withdrawn. Though the notification has been revoked, student groups remain adamant, insisting that their demand for timely senate elections must be met.
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Amid the chaos, students were not allowed to enter the campus easily. Only those with valid ID cards were given permission. Hostelers and second-year students felt discomfited due to such restricted access.
Harmanpreet Kaur, a second-year student of Anthropology, told ANI, “I am showing my ID card. But they are still not letting us in. Even for hostel students, there should be easier access. They are sending us to Gate No. 1, but it is guarded by police too.”
#WATCH | Chandigarh | Security heightened at all gates of Punjab University as the students call for a massive protest on the campus today, over their demand for senate elections.
A student, Harmanpreet Kaur, says, “I am a second-year student in the anthropology department.… https://t.co/agA3srQfLH pic.x.com/s1x4DMIDKV
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2025
Following the escalating tension, the university administration declared holidays on Monday and Tuesday, November 10 and 11, respectively. They have restricted vehicle entry without proper stickers and ID cards in a bid to contain outsider movement and prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Despite these measures, the student organisations under the banner of Panjab University Bachao Morcha refused to call off their protest. They reiterated that the agitation would continue until the senate elections are formally conducted.
The university officials, including Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig and Registrar YP Verma, called for calm. They asked the students to call off the protest, stating that the process of senate election had already begun and the detailed programme has been forwarded to the Chancellor and the Vice President of India.