PUSU leader’s car set on fire, blames rivals

CHANDIGARH: The fallout of student rivalries on the Panjab University campus is creating a rather unpleasant state of affairs around the city, blemishing the varsity’s repute.On Saturday morning, the car of a Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) leader, parked outside his home in Sector 46 was set ablaze, who has now been alleging “conspiracy” by the rivals student parties. A similar incident of enmity between arch rivals Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) and Students Organization of Panjab University (SOPU) in April 2010 triggered unrest on campus when PUSU president Udey Singh Wirring’s cars were set ablaze. The incident was followed by nearly a dozen student leaders opening fire at PUSU leader’s home in Sector 11 just a few days prior. “We have already laid down strict guidelines as far as incidents on campus are concerned. The students will be suspended and in extreme cases even considered for expulsion if they indulge in such behavior inside university premises,” says A S Ahluwalia, dean (student welfare). However, university officials expressed helplessness over incidents that happen outside the premises. “Several student bodies have ‘PU’ attached to their names and even if they belong to some college, it is the university’s name that is at stake,” Ahluwalia added.“Police are to register a case and they are finding out details from CCTV cameras of the neighbors,” says PUSU chairman Baljit Chaudhary. However, the rival groups at PU claim that they have nothing to do with the incident.