Colleges step up vigil to tackle Holi hooliganism

 With the Delhi University issuing a strict set of guidelines against “Holi hooliganism”, most colleges stepped up vigil this week to maintain order on campuses.

While police were requested to intensify patrolling outside colleges till Holi, the varsity also approached DTC authorities to check harassment of girls in buses.
“Ours is an all-girls’ college. So, we have made sure through repeated counselling that students do not fall prey to outsiders’ pranks, which are common during pre-Holi period,” said Pratibha Jolly, principal of Miranda House.

“Playing Holi on campus is a temptation for most students. However, we absolutely discourage it to maintain order. The Delhi University directive also refrains students from engaging in any such activity on the campus,” she added.

We have made sure the enthusiasm of students has been channelised into more productive activities such as debate, elocution and seminars, Jolly said.
To prevent the entry of outsiders during this period, security guards at college entrances have been instructed to check for identification cards.

Check on students

At the College of Vocational Studies, authorities instruc-
ted the internal discipline committee to monitor behaviour of students on the campus.

“Rowdiness in the week before Holi is common. So, we sent out strong messages to students a week back that playing with colours will not be entertained on campus,” said Inder Jeet, principal of College of Vocational Studies.

“We are trying to prevent any untoward incident from happening with members of the discipline committee going on surprise rounds in the college this week. The non-teaching staff have also been instructed to report any deviation from students’ end at the earliest,” he added.

The college administration has made it clear to its male students that indulging in any kind of harassment while playing with colours will be dealt with strictly, the principal said.

With classes suspended at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College for project activities, the college authorities did not need to do much to avoid “Holi hooliganism” in the premises. “Classes are suspended from March 12 as students are busy in their project activities. Since the college is reopening only on March 20, we did not have to issue separate guidelines for Holi,”

said P K Khurana, principal of Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.

However, girl students across all colleges under DU have been given helpline
numbers in case they see trouble brewing on or off campus.