Tensions are running high at Panjab University (PU) after a call to shut down the campus on April 7, triggered by the heartbreaking death of Aditya Thakur. The second-year computer science student lost his life after being stabbed during a concert on March 28, leaving the university community shaken.
The tragedy has thrown student safety into sharp focus, igniting both grief and division. While some students see the shutdown as essential to push for safety reforms, others, including Aditya’s father, urge restraint and patience until the magisterial inquiry concludes.
In response to the looming shutdown, university authorities aren’t taking any chances. A high-level meeting, involving the Dean of Student Welfare and the Chief Security Officer, was held to discuss preparedness. PU is working closely with local police, deploying extra security personnel to ensure calm prevails.
“We’re doing everything to keep the campus peaceful,” a university official shared. “Extra precautions are in place, and we’re in constant coordination with law enforcement.”
Student leaders remain split. Gautam Bhoria from the Joint Action Committee believes the protest is a necessary call for deeper change, saying, “This is about more than one incident. We need lasting safety measures.” On the other side, student Divyansh Thakur insists that respecting the family’s appeal and ongoing legal procedures is just as crucial.
The university has asked all students and faculty to remain calm, stressing that the right to protest must go hand in hand with maintaining campus order.
