Patna, Dec. 7: The security at Patna College has slackened again. Less than a month after carrying identity cards on campus was made mandatory, the identity check has stopped.

The police and the college authorities claimed the vigil was till on. But contrary to their claim, there was nobody — neither any teacher nor any policeman — at the gate to check the students’ identity this morning.

Deputy superintendent of police (town) Sheela Irani claimed that policemen were still manning the gates. But none of them could be found today.

Students, too, were unconcerned about the absence of security that was put in place because one of them was attacked. Most of them walked in without their cards, as they were well aware that there would be no one to check them.

“What checks? There are no checks. It just happened for a day, after the student was beaten up,” said a student while entering the college premises. He added: “They just talk big. No teacher has been at the gates to check our identity cards.” The “chalta hain” (casual) attitude had set in yet again, the security had been put on the backburner, he said.

A police officer at the Pirbhore station said the cops on the campus were alert to prevent any untoward incident. “Our men are always on the college campus,” said the officer. But it was only after an hour-long search that a police picket on the college campus was spotted. The only constable was busy keeping himself warm. “Saab thik hain (everything is alright),” he said, when asked about the security arrangements.

“On a bright day, policemen can be seen basking in the sunlight,” said a student. He added: “They were around for a few days after the incident. Then it all returned to square one.”

Teachers, too, are of the opinion that the checks have stopped. “It is always like this. The college authorities sit up after something happens. Then things go back to as they were earlier,” said a teacher.

Patna College principal Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who had taken the initiative to start the checks, was unavailable for comment today.

The college authorities had started checking identity cards of students after English department student Mitrajeet was beaten up by fellow students on December 15.