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Heavy police presence, barricades and restricted entry into the premises marked the day as authorities prepared for possible unrest, news agency ANI reported.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur inspected the security arrangements at major entry points of the university.
The protest stems from widespread opposition to the now withdrawn Education Ministry notification on the reconstitution of the Senate, which was originally issued on October 28 and recently canceled last week.
#Watch Chandigarh: Police deployed around Panjab University campus. SSP Chandigarh Kanwardeep Kaur checked the security arrangements.
Students of Panjab University have called for a massive protest on the campus today demanding Senate elections. pic.twitter.com/ONBSExyxsW
– ANI (@ANI) 10 November 2025
A significant police contingent was deployed at all university gates, with barricades put up to control movement. Entry into the premises was strictly restricted to those holding valid identity cards.
Harmanpreet Kaur, a second-year anthropology student, expressed her frustration at being stopped at a gate.
“I am a second-year student in the anthropology department. Because of the protests, they are not allowing us to enter. Hostellers should be allowed to enter. I am also showing the ID card. They are asking me to go through gate number 1, but there should be police there too,” she told ANI.
#Watch Chandigarh Security has been beefed up at all gates of Panjab University as students have called for a massive protest on the campus today demanding Senate elections.
Harmanpreet Kaur, a student, says, “I am a second year student in the anthropology department.… https://t.co/agA3srQfLH pic.twitter.com/s1x4DMIDKV
– ANI (@ANI) 10 November 2025
Holiday declared, students upset
Amid rising tension, the university declared holiday on Monday and Tuesday (November 10 and 11), and also banned entry of vehicles without official stickers and ID cards to curb movement of outsiders.
According to Hindustan Times, despite the announcement, student organizations refused to call off the protest organized under the banner of Panjab University Bachao Morcha, and said that the agitation would continue until the Senate elections were formally held.
PU Vice-Chancellor Renu Wig and Registrar YP Verma appealed for calm and urged student groups to reconsider their agitation, citing that the Senate election process has started and the detailed program has been sent to the Chancellor, Vice President of India.
PU has started the Senate election process.
Following the previous pattern, the draft election schedule has been presented to the Honorable Chancellor and Vice President of India for approval.
1/3#PunjabUniversity #PUChandigarh #Chandigarh #SenateElections pic.twitter.com/kiVycycKhf
– Panjab University, Chandigarh (@OfficialPU) 9 November 2025
However, student representatives said they no longer had confidence in verbal assistance.
Support politicians, farmers, students
Several political leaders, including Patiala MP Dharamvir Gandhi, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, former Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal and Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh expressed support for the students.
According to HT, farmer unions and gurudwara groups from Punjab also intend to join the protests.
#Watch Chandigarh: Students of Panjab University have called for a massive protest in the campus today demanding Senate elections. Policemen are deployed at all the gates of the university. Entry is being allowed only with ID card. pic.twitter.com/yCNqKNcNH1
– ANI (@ANI) 10 November 2025