Varsities ignore student security

LUDHIANA: The recent incident at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College where some outsiders entered the hostel with weapons and attacked a boy has raised serious doubts over security provided by the authorities to the students.
This cannot be ignored as a one-off incident as several other colleges in the city have faced similar incidents in the past. Earlier in May, a student of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University Mann was thrashed by a group of students inside the hostel with iron rods.The victim, Sukhpreet Singh, was badly injured and had to be admitted in the emergency ward.
University authorities took quick action in this matter and rusticated the involved students after an inquiry. Still, such incidents continue to occur.
Maximum incidents have been witnessed in Punjab Agricultural University. Here, the students indulge in fights mostly for presidentship of the student union or any personal issues. But in April, a shocking incident took place when a post-graduate student was attacked with swords and stick inside the hostel, raising doubts over the efficiency of safety and security of students.
Even after this incident no initiative was taken by university authorities to beef up on campus and hostel security. The only arrangement made was the hiring of 15 ex-servicemen. Ironically, these security guards are placed only at the entrance points. And, so far, no checks have been conducted in the hostel rooms.
"Even after several incidents not even a single hostel room was checked. Even now there are a lot of students, who have kept swords and iron rods inside their rooms," said a hostel student.
Another shocking incident took place just outside the main gate of SCD Government College where a former student was attacked with sharp edged weapons.
Principal of Ramgarhia Girls College Narinder Kaur Sandhu said: "Such incidents raise serious question over the security provided to the students. But, more than that, it highlights the failure of the institutions and teachers to make their students sensitive, generous and kind."
Punjab College of Technical Education director KNS Kang said: "Rise in such incidents is alarming. No doubt authorities should keep a check on the activities of students."