12 Kolkata: On the day vice-chancellor Bhaskar Gupta returned to his office at Jadavpur University after 16 days, the university authorities on Monday decided on a series of measures to beef up security on the campus. While some measures, like restrictions on the entry of outsiders and outside vehicles, were implemented from Monday itself, others — like appointment of additional security guards and installation of more CCTV cameras — could take some time.
Senior officials, along with the acting VC, also decided to remove objectionable graffiti from the campus and set up a mechanism to identify those that can be permitted and those that may breach the law. This comes after Kolkata Police filed an FIR against unknown individuals under stringent sections for putting up graffiti on ‘Azad Kashmir' on the walls of JU.
On Monday, the security persons stopped people from using the campus as a thoroughfare. Between 8 pm and 7 am, only students will be allowed to enter the campus after they furnish their ID cards. "This rule was already in place. It will be strictly implemented. Agency staff and maintenance workers will be provided separate ID cards." Also, apart from vehicles with university stickers, all vehicles will have to fill a register before entering through gate 3. Outside vehicles will be restricted after 7 pm.
Sources said that gate 5 will be kept temporarily closed due to lack of security guards. An official shared that the university authority again approached the state govt on Monday so that 35 additional contractual security guards can be appointed. JU authorities also decided that only university-authorised unions, associations, and clubs will be able to hold programmes at the university auditoriums.
JU has put curbs on TV channels, restricting entry to two persons per channel. They will also have to seek prior approval of the university authorities to access JU's administrative building, Aurobindo Bhavan. "Journalists will have to sign a register at the entry gate. They must carry press cards," said a source.
Kolkata Police wrote to JU authorities last Wednesday seeking space to put up a police outpost on the campus. Gupta on Monday said, "I cannot take the decision alone. This decision has to be taken in consultation with various authorised bodies of JU, and the Executive Council has the power to take the final call."
He shared that he wrote to the govt multiple times to conduct student union elections and will again write as the university authorities feel that it was essential to hold students' elections.