Pune: Massive security arrangements and police patrolling have been enforced across central Pune as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived in the city for his large-scale student outreach initiative, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', scheduled at the SSPMS ground near RTO Chowk. Tension mounted across educational pockets in Shivaji Nagar following street clashes between rival student political organizations outside the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Technological University hostel, leading to formal police complaints and strict regulatory curbs.

Hostel Confrontation and FIR Registered at Shivajinagar

The conflict erupted on Friday evening during student mobilization drives for Rahul Gandhi's interactive session. According to an FIR registered at the Shivajinagar Police Station based on a complaint filed by a 21-year-old student, workers affiliated with the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress allegedly confronted and assaulted an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member outside the hostel premises over registration drives and recorded video statements.

Police registered the case against six named persons and 50 to 60 unidentified individuals under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act. Conversely, Youth Congress and NSUI leaders alleged that ABVP members were intimidating female students who supported the youth event to discuss scholarship issues and women's safety.

Strict 30-Point Regulatory Clearance for SSPMS Ground Event

The Pune City Police granted conditional permission for the Chhatron Ki Goonj programme at the SSPMS ground with 30 strict conditions. The directives enforce:

  • Prohibition on Drones and Objectionable Banners: Complete restriction on unauthorized aerial drone cameras and banners likely to disrupt law and order or hurt religious sentiments.
  • Mandatory Safety and Surveillance Protocols: Round-the-clock CCTV surveillance across the perimeter, designated separate seating and facility zones for female attendees, and deployment of private women security volunteers.
  • Noise Pollution Compliance: Strict adherence to permissible decibel levels under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules.

Focus of the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' Campaign

Following earlier editions in Kota, Dehradun, and Prayagraj, the Pune convention is designed as an interactive dialogue primarily engaging female students on pressing educational concerns, including examination paper leaks, transparent competitive testing, rising college fees, and workplace safety. With thousands of attendees gathering at the venue, quick response teams and traffic diversions remain operational across the Shivaji Nagar corridor to ensure public order.