Puducherry: Pondicherry University students have sought improved security inside the campus after a girl student was molested in the campus premises. Students said that security should be tightened and unregulated entry of public should not be allowed, especially during night time.
“If security staff members allow anybody to enter the campus at any point of time they should be capable of ensuring the security of the students,” said Anusree, a second-year student. “Only thing we can do inside a campus where authority including the chief warden is so irresponsible is that we should be more alert “ she added.
About 240 people work in the university security wing. But students, mainly girls, complain that the security personnel are not ready to listen to complaints, but instead they try to find fault with the students.
“If we complain about some problem they are not ready to listen to us, but if a girl student comes a little bit late in the night, the same security people engage her with 100 queries.
They are interested in moral policing more than ensuring safety. The chief warden is no different,” said a student. Students and some faculty point out the absence of permanent vice chancellor in the university as the current vice chancellor Prof Chandra Krishna Moorthy is on forced leave on charges of plagiarism and academic malpractice.
“The ministry is asking to raise the national flag in central universities. All we say is that please send a permanent VC for us so that strict action can be taken against these anti-social elements inside the campus and ensure a better atmosphere,” said Sachin Ajith, a second-year student.
Admitting that there serious security lapses take place inside the campus, Dr Ilamathy Janakiraman, Chief Warden for girls, said the university will take necessary action to tighten security. “We had a meeting with the vice chancellor on Saturday in which we took decisions to tighten security and regulate the unrestricted entry of public inside the campus. We forwarded the complaint of the girl to Kalapet police station,” she said.
