After Clashes At SPPU, Pune City Police Ban Gatherings In And Around The Campus
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 7th November 2023: In a bid to uphold a conducive educational environment, Pune City Police have implemented a ban on gatherings in and around Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus, as per Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The decision follows recent clashes involving students and members affiliated with the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The situation further escalated when the Pune City unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organized an agitation against objectionable graffiti about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on SPPU hostel walls.
Dr. Prafulla Pawar, Registrar of SPPU, emphasized the necessity for measures ensuring a peaceful environment conducive to education in a letter submitted to the local Chatushringi police station.
Pawar stated, “The renowned university, attracting both national and international students, has faced disruptions due to unauthorized marches, agitations, and demonstrations within the SPPU premises, along with external gatherings for various worships causing disturbances.”
Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik’s Section 144 orders, effective from 07/11/2023 to 21/11/2023, include:
1. Prohibiting non-students from congregating within 100 meters of Savitribai Phule Pune University.
2. Restricting gatherings of two or more persons within SPPU premises, excluding students, teachers, staff, and police officers.
3. Implementing a ban on loudspeakers in the university area.
4. Forbidding objectionable printed text placement to prevent disputes between groups.
Violations may incur punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The measures aim to restore order and safeguard the educational atmosphere at SPPU.
