Panic briefly swept through the campus of Panjab University on Tuesday evening after two gunshots were reportedly fired in the air near the Department of Botany. The incident took place during the university’s annual cultural festival Jhankaar, when the campus was crowded with students and operating under heightened security.
According to the police, the firing appears to have been carried out to intimidate rather than harm. Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur confirmed that two empty shells were recovered from the scene. Preliminary findings suggest that the shots were allegedly meant to threaten Jashanpreet (Jashan) Singh Jawanda, a student leader linked to the Student Organisation of Panjab University. However, no formal complaint has been filed so far. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from across the campus to identify those involved.
The development has once again drawn attention to ongoing rivalries within student politics at the university. Jawanda had previously contested the Panjab University Campus Students Council elections as a general secretary candidate representing a faction of SOPU. His name had also surfaced during the 2024 elections, when he received public backing from an alleged associate of the Bishnoi group, further intensifying political tensions on campus.
Eyewitnesses described moments of fear and confusion following the sound of gunshots, although no injuries were reported. Security personnel stationed for the Jhankaar festival quickly moved in to secure the area and prevent further panic. The fact that the incident occurred despite heavy security arrangements has raised serious concerns among students and faculty.
This is not the first time such violence has been reported on the campus. A similar incident in April 2016 left three people injured after a clash between rival student groups escalated into gunfire near the Department of Police Administration. The recurrence of such events has reignited debate over safety measures and the influence of student politics in academic institutions.
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Police officials have stated that the investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying suspects and determining whether the firing is directly linked to past rivalries. They have also urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, as the case remains open and under active scrutiny.