Panjab University Campus Rocked by Shooting Incident During Fest
CHANDIGARH: Panic gripped the Panjab University campus on Tuesday evening as two masked assailants opened fire on Jashandeep Singh Jawanda, a prominent functionary of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU). The incident occurred around 5:45 PM near the botany department parking lot, where Jawanda was standing. According to police reports, the gunmen fired two shots at close range, but both missed their target, allowing Jawanda to escape unharmed.
Festival Chaos and Campus Lockdown
The timing of the attack amplified the chaos, as the university was hosting its annual Jhankaar Fest, drawing large crowds of students, visitors, and journalists. Tuesday's schedule included a highly anticipated 'star night' concert featuring Satinder Sartaaj. In response to the shooting, university authorities immediately cancelled the concert and put the entire fest on hold. Police personnel remained on campus late into the night, collecting forensic evidence, reviewing CCTV footage, and interviewing witnesses to piece together the sequence of events.
Dramatic Escape and Criminal Spree
After the failed attack, the assailants attempted to flee on a scooter but became disoriented in the university's layout, ending up at the rear of the Radha Krishan temple with no exit route. Desperate, they abandoned their scooter and rushed into the temple, where the priest confronted them for not removing their shoes. Enraged, one gunman pulled a weapon and threatened the priest before running out. The duo then proceeded to a nearby private school, where they accosted a couple at gunpoint, commandeered their Enfield motorcycle, and sped away. The motorcycle owner alerted the police control room, which initially responded to the robbery before learning about the campus shooting.
Police Investigation and Historical Context
Senior police officials, including DSP Dalbir Singh Bhinder and Sector 11 SHO Japal Singh Bhullar, along with crime branch officers and forensic teams, swiftly arrived at the scene. Preliminary investigations revealed the scooter used by the suspects had fake number plates. CCTV analysis suggests there might have been four individuals involved in the incident. "Two gunshots were fired and nobody was hurt," confirmed DSP Bhinder. Jawanda's phone was found switched off, prompting police to dispatch a team to his residence to ensure his safety.
This alarming event echoes past violence at Panjab University. Almost exactly a year ago, student Aditya Thakur was fatally stabbed during a fest concert, with three others injured. The last shooting incident on campus dates back to April 2016, when three students sustained injuries. The motive behind Tuesday's attack remains unclear, as police continue their probe into what appears to be a targeted assault on a student leader amidst festive celebrations.
