Savitribai Phule Pune University has suspended the campus and hostel entry of two male students accused of intimidating a female student near the girls’ hostel and has decided to file a police complaint against them, following an overnight protest by female students.
The university has also appointed a high-level committee to investigate the incident, which allegedly took place on October 11. The action was announced on October 12 by the university’s public relations officer, who said the administration had taken the matter seriously in view of the safety of female students on campus.
According to the account reported by Punekar News, the two students allegedly asked the female student unnecessary questions and questioned her conduct near the hostel. The allegations have not been established, and the university’s inquiry is expected to determine the facts and whether disciplinary action is warranted.
The incident led female students to protest on Sunday night. The student concerned and other students reportedly went to Chatushrungi police station to lodge a complaint and remained there from 1am to 6am, seeking action from the university against the accused students.
The students later returned without the response they had sought, alleging that they had not received the expected intervention from the vice-chancellor, registrar and other senior officials. On Monday afternoon, they met the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and registrar and submitted a memorandum seeking action.
Their demands included a police complaint by the university, strict disciplinary measures against the accused, cancellation of their admission under university rules and stronger CCTV surveillance and security arrangements around the girls’ hostel. The demands place both the alleged conduct and the university’s response to safety complaints at the centre of the dispute.
SPPU said the high-level committee appointed by the vice-chancellor would investigate the incident and that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty. The university has, in the meantime, barred the two students from entering their academic departments and the hostel with immediate effect.
The protesting students said the matter should not be treated as a minor dispute, arguing that it concerned the safety, dignity and freedom of women on campus. They also warned that their agitation would continue if concrete decisions and appropriate action were not taken on their demands. The university’s police complaint and committee inquiry are the next formal steps in the case.
