Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has raised serious concerns about the lack of regulations in private student accommodations across the city, stating they have become centers for undesirable activities due to absence of proper controls.
Police Commissioner's Strong Remarks
During the unveiling of the city police's year-long campus safety and discipline plan on Wednesday, Commissioner Kumar specifically highlighted the problematic situation in private hostels and paying guest accommodations. The police chief revealed that many private student accommodations have transformed into 'addas' for numerous unwanted activities due to complete absence of supervision.
Commissioner Kumar emphasized that there is absolutely no control over students' movements and activities in these facilities. "The private hostels, it's not a generalized statement, but many of them have become addas for a lot of unwanted things," he stated during his address on November 20, 2025.
Specific Concerns Highlighted
The police commissioner identified several critical issues plaguing private student accommodations. The primary concerns include no restrictions on student timings, unlimited inter-hostel visits, and mixing of genders in hostel premises.
Kumar specifically mentioned the practice of boys being allowed to enter girls' hostels and vice versa as particularly problematic. He stressed that this situation requires serious rethinking from all stakeholders involved in student accommodation management.
The commissioner clarified that his concerns are not about moral policing but about maintaining discipline and ensuring student safety. He asserted that while certain aberrations might be acceptable, violations of rule of law would be dealt with firmly.
Response to Moral Policing Allegations
When questioned by The Indian Express about whether his remarks constitute moral policing regarding residential choices of adult students, Commissioner Kumar provided a detailed response. "It is not a question of moral policing, it is a question of trying to ensure that the student community and the youth are a disciplined lot," he explained.
The police chief elaborated that students come to Pune with specific educational objectives, and while some deviations might be acceptable, crossing legal boundaries would invite strict action. Kumar made it clear that his department would intervene only when activities violate established laws.
He emphasized that the police approach involves appealing to educational institutions to enforce appropriate rules while aiming for voluntary compliance from students. The ultimate goal remains minimizing aberrations and ensuring campus safety through cooperative measures rather than excessive policing.
