Tensions flared at Panjab University in Chandigarh after midnight when police attempted to remove a student leader on an indefinite hunger strike, prompting protests and political backlash. Additional police personnel were deployed across the campus on Monday morning to prevent further unrest.

The confrontation occurred amid widespread outrage over the union Government’s October 28 notification dissolving the 59-year-old Senate and Syndicate of the university, effective November 5.

The decision to replace the university’s elected bodies with nominated ones has drawn widespread condemnation from the students, faculty and political leaders from Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), who accused the Centre of “dismantling democracy” and “saffronising” one of India’s oldest educational institutions.

Early this morning, additional police personnel were deployed around the campus to prevent further unrest, while student groups maintained their sit-in, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the directive and an official apology from the police.

The students raised slogans of “Chandigarh Police Go Back” and “We Want Freedom”, accusing police personnel of high-handedness and misconduct.

The protests, led by Abhishek Dagar, General Secretary of the University Council and a member of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), entered their fourth day when police intervened late Sunday night. Dagar, a student of the University Institute of Legal Studies, has been on a hunger strike opposing the university’s affidavit policy, which protesters claim curtails student rights.

According to witnesses, police arrived at the protest site near the Vice-Chancellor’s office, attempting to persuade Dagar to end his fast and move to a hospital for medical care. When negotiations failed, officers reportedly tried to disperse the gathering using mild force, sparking outrage among students.

Students continued their sit-in this morning, raising slogans such as “Chandigarh Police Go Back” and “We Want Freedom”, and demanding an official apology from the police and withdrawal of the directive. Some protesters alleged that police personnel behaved inappropriately and that a few were under the influence of alcohol during the operation.

Prominent political figures, including Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang, visited the campus to express solidarity with the students and criticised the administration’s handling of the situation.