CHANDIGARH, April 16: — Panjab University has reported a rise in unauthorised social media handles misusing the varsity’s name to post defamatory content and target student leaders, prompting the administration to involve cyber crime authorities.
The university on Tuesday confirmed it had written to the cyber crime police station after anonymous pages across platforms, especially Instagram, began posting AI-generated images, memes, and alleged meeting leaks. Officials noted that while such pages typically surface during student council elections, their activity surged following a stabbing incident on the South Campus last month.
“These pages are using Panjab University’s name and branding, which could mislead anyone searching for official information,” said PU Registrar Y.P. Verma. He added that a committee led by the director of public relations has been formed to identify the accounts and draft a standard operating procedure to deal with them.
PU Vice Chancellor Renu Vig noted that the matter had been formally reported to cyber authorities. “A letter has been sent to the cyber crime police station, urging action,” she said.
Student leaders have voiced concern over the online activity, saying it has diverted attention from real issues on campus. “Pages are routinely spreading misinformation and damaging the image of the university and of those of us protesting with genuine concerns,” said Archit Garg, vice president of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC). He also pointed out the challenge of pursuing legal action as page administrators use misspellings or symbolic references to avoid detection.
Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) president Balraj Singh Sidhu, who was personally targeted by one such page, said, “It is very unfortunate how they make unfounded allegations against those who are genuinely standing up for students.”
The university has not disclosed a timeline for further action but confirmed ongoing efforts to monitor and document offending posts.
