New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- Security arrangements have been stepped up across Delhi University ahead of student union elections, with more than 2,000 personnel, including paramilitary forces, to be deployed during campaigning, polling and counting, a police officer said on Wednesday.
The final day of campaigning is Wednesday, while polling will be held on Friday and results for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election declared on Saturday.
The officer said security would be heightened around colleges and locations to ensure peaceful elections and maintain law and order. Police will be deployed at strategic points, while foot patrols, motorcycle teams and PCR vans will maintain a presence. The deployment will focus on preventing clashes, unauthorised gatherings and untoward incidents. Police teams will monitor sensitive points, areas with heavy movement. Arrangements will be made near polling centres to regulate movement and prevent overcrowding.
Police are coordinating with college authorities on entry/exit points and arrangements for polling and counting. Personnel will be deployed during counting on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh directed college principals and officials to ensure fair, transparent and peaceful conduct of the DUSU elections during a meeting with university and Delhi Police officials on Wednesday.
Principals were asked to maintain heightened security for three to four days and appoint teachers as police liaisons. EVMs will be delivered to colleges a day before polling, with voting scheduled from 8.30 am to 1 pm for day classes and 3 pm to 7.30 pm for evening classes. Night patrols will continue until September 18, while women constables will be deployed at women's colleges on polling day.
NSUI, ABVP spar over govt's 10,000 student hostel announcement
The NSUI sought a transparent, time-bound plan from the Delhi government on the proposed hostels for 10,000 students, asking for details on their implementation.
NSUI national president Vinod Jakhar said the organisation was not opposed to the proposal but wanted clarity on its execution. ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma accused the NSUI of politicising the accommodation issue, saying his organisation had consistently demanded increased hostel capacity. He also questioned the Congress' record on student accommodation.
Separately, the Indian Youth Congress held a march at Delhi University, with its national president Uday Bhanu Chib demanding safer and affordable accommodation, particularly for students from outside Delhi and economically weaker families.
Chib said students should not be forced to spend a major portion of their family income on private accommodation and urged the government and university administration to focus on delivering hostel facilities rather than making announcements.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.