SPPU hostel safety has become the focus of an official inquiry after Savitribai Phule Pune University suspended the entry of two male students to their academic departments and hostel and said it would file a police complaint over alleged intimidation and moral policing near the girls’ hostel.
The action followed a protest by female students on Sunday night after an incident that allegedly took place near the hostel on October 11. According to a statement by the university’s public relations officer, the two students are accused of intimidating a female student and questioning her conduct.
The university has appointed a high-level committee to investigate the incident. It said strict action would be taken against those found guilty after the inquiry. The university’s decision came after students demanded institutional action and stronger safety measures on campus.
Following the alleged incident, the student concerned and other female students went to Chatushrungi police station to lodge a complaint. The students reportedly remained there from 1am to 6am, seeking the university administration’s initiative in filing a police complaint against the accused students. They later returned without the action they had sought, according to the report, and alleged that they had not received the expected response from the vice-chancellor, registrar and other senior officials.
On October 12, the students met the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor and registrar at around 12.30pm and submitted a memorandum. Their demands included a police complaint by the university, strict disciplinary action against the two students, cancellation of their admission under university rules and stronger CCTV surveillance and security arrangements around the girls’ hostel.
The university said it had taken the issue seriously because it concerned the safety of female students on campus. The immediate restrictions prevent the accused students from entering their academic departments and the hostel while the committee conducts its investigation. The university’s statement did not specify the committee’s deadline or the next date for reporting its findings.
The protesting students said the incident should not be treated as a minor dispute. They described it as an issue involving the safety, dignity and freedom of women on campus and warned that their agitation would continue if concrete decisions were not taken on their demands.
The university’s police complaint and committee inquiry are the next formal steps in the case. Further disciplinary action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
