Panjab University students, police clash during protest against fee hike

CHANDIGARH: A protest against the Panjab University fee hike turned violent today as agitating students clashed with the police, who had to resort to lathi-charge resulting in injuries on both sides. Several students were taken into preventive custody even as police registered a case of rioting and damage to public property against protesting students, police said here. The trouble started when agitating students tried to forcibly enter the Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover's office at PU campus to discuss fee issue as they were observing 'PU Bandh' against the recent fee hike. Several student bodies including Students for Society (SFS), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) had given a joint call for 'Panjab University Bandh' in protest against the fee hike. Police, which had barricaded the area, resorted to water cannons to disperse the students. The situation turned violent when students allegedly started pelting stones and flower pots at cops, forcing the police to lob teargas shells and use cane charge, leading to injuries to several students. "We resorted to use force after students turned violent," UT Chandigarh SP, Eish Singhal said adding that vehicles of police were also damaged. "Five to six police officials have also sustained injuries," said SP. After police used force, some protesting students even took shelter in a Gurdwara situated on the campus. Earlier, protesting students boycotted the classes. Some students could also be seen forcing the shops to close. Students have been protesting against the "significant" hike in tuition fee announced by PU senate last month for the academic year 2017-18. In some courses, the fee hike was steep. In case of B Pharma course, the fee was raised from Rs 5,080 to Rs 50,000 and in case of MA Journalism course, the fee was hiked from Rs 5,290 to Rs 30,000. For PU's dental course, the fees was increased from Rs 86,400 to Rs 1.50 lakh. With students demanding rollback of fee increase, PU had justified the average 12.5 per cent hike while considering the financial condition of the university as the varsity anticipated a deficit of Rs 244 crore for the financial year 2017-18.