Students of Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) held a solidarity march in Delhi on September 23, demanding stronger measures for women’s safety after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir.
Students from other women’s colleges, including Miranda House and Gargi College, also joined the protest, raising concerns about poor lighting, inadequate police patrolling, non-functional safety infrastructure and unsafe routes around the LSR campus.
The protest followed a police encounter involving one of the three accused around 50 metres from LSR’s back gate, prompting the college to temporarily shift classes online. All three accused have since been arrested, according to police.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Joint Commissioner Vijay Kumar also visited LSR and reviewed security arrangements, with police personnel, women officers and women PCR vans deployed around the campus. LSR Principal Kanika K Ahuja said the safety, security and well-being of students remained the college’s “paramount” concern, while regular offline classes were scheduled to resume on September 24.
Students Demand Safer Streets
The alleged assault took place on the evening of September 21, when the 17-year-old girl and her 17-year-old male friend visited Kalkaji Mandir before entering Aastha Kunj Park.
According to Delhi Police, three men allegedly approached the teenagers while posing as police officers, separated the girl from her friend and took her to a secluded portion of the park, where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.
The friend subsequently made a PCR call at around 8.45 pm. Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
All three accused Asif, Hemant and Mukesh were arrested, with police saying Asif was injured in an exchange of fire during his apprehension. A bullet reportedly struck a head constable’s bulletproof jacket.
For LSR students, the incident became particularly alarming because of its proximity to their college and the subsequent encounter near the campus. The college, located around two kilometres from Aastha Kunj Park, suspended physical classes and moved teaching online temporarily after the encounter. Students’ concerns, however, extend beyond the immediate incident.
They have flagged dark stretches near the back gate, inadequate police patrolling, a reportedly non-functional Pink Booth, vehicles blocking footpaths and concerns about harassment and stalking in surrounding areas. Students living in nearby paying-guest accommodation also use these routes while returning from college, including after evening classes, society activities and rehearsals.
Security Gaps Under Scrutiny
The condition of Aastha Kunj Park has also emerged as a major concern following the alleged assault. Investigators found that the park lacked functioning CCTV cameras at its entry and exit points, while parts of its boundary wall had collapsed and some gates were reportedly unmanned.
The park was also described as poorly lit after dusk. These gaps have raised questions about surveillance and security in public spaces frequently used by residents and students.
The LSR Students’ Union held an emergency General Body Meeting after the incident, with students discussing measures they wanted authorities and the college administration to implement.
Their demands include regular police patrolling, functional CCTV cameras, better street lighting, a properly staffed Pink Booth, safer pedestrian routes and stronger security around the college perimeter.
Students have also stressed the need for quicker communication and coordination between the college, police, security personnel and student representatives. On September 23, hundreds of students joined the solidarity march, carrying placards and raising slogans asserting women’s right to move freely and safely in Delhi.
The authorities have responded with additional security measures. Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Joint Commissioner Vijay Kumar visited LSR on September 23 and met the principal to review arrangements around the campus. Police personnel were deployed outside the college, while women police officers and women PCR vans were stationed in the area.
The college has also been coordinating with the police over security along its perimeter. LSR Principal Kanika K Ahuja said the institution had cancelled classes after learning about the incident because the “safety, security and well-being” of its students were paramount. She added that faculty mentors and the college counsellor would remain available to students requiring support.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The LSR students’ protest is a reminder that women’s safety cannot be measured only by what happens inside an institution’s gates. A campus may have security personnel and CCTV cameras, but students still have to walk through public roads, use public transport and navigate neighbourhoods after dark.
Their concerns about lighting, surveillance, policing and emergency response deserve to be addressed through practical, sustained measures rather than only in the immediate aftermath of a crime. At the same time, the allegations in the Kalkaji case must be investigated fairly and swiftly, with due process for the accused and dignity and privacy for the survivor.
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