Pune Police Ban Political Leaders, Workers From COEP Campus Till August 26
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Shivajinagar, 22nd August 2026: Pune Police have prohibited political leaders, party workers and outside organisations from entering the COEP Technological University and its hostel premises following a clash between rival student groups (ABVP and NSUI) on Friday night.
The prohibitory order, issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Dr Prashant Amrutkar under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, came into effect on August 22 and will remain in force until midnight on August 26.
The restrictions were imposed after a confrontation involving members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the National Students’ Union of India at the university’s hostel campus. Police subsequently registered a case against 50 to 60 Youth Congress workers based on a complaint filed by an ABVP member. The two sides have made conflicting allegations over attempts to mobilise female students for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The university administration had requested the police to prevent political party office-bearers, workers and leaders from entering the campus for four days, citing concerns over students’ safety and the academic atmosphere.
“Considering the available information and the prevailing situation, it is urgently necessary to prohibit unauthorised political gatherings, protests, demonstrations, meetings, sloganeering and similar activities at COEP and its hostel premises to ensure the safety of students, teachers and employees and to maintain public peace and order,” DCP Amrutkar said in the order.
Under the restrictions, political figures and workers are barred from entering the university and hostel campuses or organising demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strikes, marches, rallies, political meetings and gatherings. Sloganeering and the display of political banners, posters and placards have also been prohibited.
The order does not apply to university and hostel students, teaching and non-teaching employees, emergency service personnel, people performing judicial duties, police officials or those entering with prior permission from the police or university administration.
Police said the situation would be reviewed periodically and the restrictions could be modified, relaxed or withdrawn through a separate order. Anyone violating the directive could face action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
