The Mumbai terror attack has put colleges in Pune on their guard, with reports that the terrorists had identity cards of reputed colleges in their possession.

Now principals and heads of various colleges in Pune feel that the process of issuing identity cards should be made more rigorous. Some colleges are also beefing up security on campus while others are strictly screening students and visitors to the campuses.

Dr Gajanan Ekbote, chairman of the Progressive Education Society that runs the Modern College said, “The I-card issuing process, in general, is not foolproof. However, in Modern, we issue an I-card to the student only once at the time of admission. Also, we ensure he/she takes the I-card within the stipulated time period only. Our process of issuing duplicate I-cards, in case the original is lost, is also very tedious.”

He said that as a precaution, the number of security guards on all campuses of Modern College will be increased by 25 per cent Monday onwards. “The total amount we spend on security guards is about Rs 1 lakh per month. Adequate security guards are a must not just during extreme cases like a terror attack, but also to keep a check on thefts that are rampant within college campuses,” Ekbote added.

P A Inamdar, president of Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society (MCES), too agreed that the process of issuing I-card needs to undergo a change. “Experts must suggest ways of making it foolproof. Today, it is a professor or a reader from the college who overlooks the process,” he said. Inamdar suggested that the civic body or the city police play a role in issuing I-cards to students.

When asked about security measures on Azam campus run by the MCES, Inamdar said instructions had been given to the college staff and security guards to report any unusual activity or suspicious person in and around campus. “We have also directed college officials to conduct surprise checks in hostels and ensure hostel timings are strictly followed,” he said.

Prof Anil Sahasrabuddhe, director, College of Engineering Pune (COEP), said COEP hostel was being rigorously monitored. “Though we have not increased the number of security guards, we have requested our students to cooperate during random checks,” he said.

Sahasrabuddhe said I-cards should bear a hologram or watermark of the city or college. “While we cannot ensure that anti-social elements do not misuse an identity card, we must at least make it difficult for them to do so,” he said.

S M Chitale, former principal of Fergusson College, also agreed that the I-card issuing process had loopholes. “When one can get a fake passport, which is a government document, it is not difficult to get a fake college I-card,” he said.

Dr Hemant Abhyankar, principal, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, expressed similar views on the process of issuing college I-cards.