Chandigarh, March 17: Panjab University’s “Jhankaar” festival was marred by violence this evening after unidentified individuals fired two shots in a suspected act of student rivalry. Law enforcement officials believe the firing was a targeted attempt to threaten SOPU leader Jashanpreet Singh Jawanda, a figure previously associated with high-profile student council campaigns.
The Chandigarh police have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, which took place despite the heightened security protocols typically in place for university festivals. SSP Kanwardeep Kaur affirmed that the department is tracking the movement of vehicles and individuals through campus surveillance systems.
“The matter is under investigation, and we’re tracking CCTV footage across the campus,” the SSP declared. She maintained that the recovery of two shells near the Botany Department confirms that the weapon was discharged, though the shots were directed into the air rather than at any individual.
The campus has seen a history of such confrontations, with police officials noting that Jawanda has been a central figure in recent university politics. Authorities asserted that they are taking the threat seriously to prevent a repeat of past campus violence, such as the 2016 parking lot shooting that resulted in multiple arrests and injuries.
