4 days later, cops file case over Gargi fest molestation

Police register case four days after incident; Delhi CM calls for strict action against culprits

NEWDELHI: Four days after a group of men allegedly barged into the annual cultural festival of Delhi University’s all-women Gargi College and misbehaved with its students, the police on Monday registered a case of molestation, trespassing, and sexual harassment against the men who are yet to be identified.

Deputy commissioner of police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur said an FIR was registered against unknown persons following a complaint from the college principal. Investigators will probe how outsiders entered the campus despite the college deploying private security guards, he said.

College principal Promila Kumar said a high-level fact finding committee has been set up to probe the incident.

› Misbehaviour against our daughters in Gargi College was extremely sad and unfortunate. This cannot be tolerated at all. ...it should be ensured that the children studying in our colleges are safe.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL, Delhi CM

›

Those who were involved in the incident were outsiders and not students. It was not a good incident. The college administration has been told to take action in the incident

RAMESH POKHRIYAL , HRD minister

NEW DELHI: A major controversy has erupted after a group of alleged drunk outsiders barged into Delhi University’s Gargi College and sexually harassed students during the college festival on Thursday, evoking sharp reactions from political parties, student outfits and women activists and questions being raised in the Parliament.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal called misbehaviour with women students at Gargi College “extremely unfortunate” and demanded stringent punishment for the accused.

The Delhi Police, which maintained that the college administration did not inform them about the incident or filed a formal complaint, lodged an FIR under various sections on Monday. They, however, admitted that some police personnel had been deployed, including some in plain clothes but added that nobody approached them with a complaint.

College students protested on Monday, alleging they had complained to the college administration on February 6 (Thursday), the last day of the college fest ‘Reverie’, but took no action. “Nobody had expected this inside the campus. It was traumatic,” said a second-year undergraduate student.

According to eyewitnesses, “hordes of men” barged inside the all-women college despite the presence of police and security personnel.

Several students shared testimonies on social media. “The administration did not come to our rescue. The police and RAF personnel present on the spot did nothing. They were standing and watching as people were being crushed inside,” said another second-year student.

Condemning the incident, principal Promila Kumar said,

“We have set up a high-level fact finding committee to meet with the complainants, eyewitnesses and any other persons having relevant information. This committee will prepare, in a timebound manner, a report of the complaints for submission to the police if the complainants so desire. We will set up a security protocol to ensure such incidents never take place again.”

Teams from the National Commission of Women and Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) also met students on Monday and recorded their statements. Taking suo moto cognizance of the case, DCW has also summoned the concerned deputy commissioner of police and the college principal, seeking their response along with a copy of CCTV footage of cameras installed on campus.

“Nobody approached the security personnel or complained about such harassment,” said deputy commissioner of police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur on Monday.

“They only came to help after students started bawling and crying,” said a second-year student. “The crowd was spitting water at each other and throwing cigarette butts at women students. It was horrifying.”

“Since it was the final day, we were also wrapping up. I was carrying our installations out with both my hands when someone groped me,” said a third-year student. She said she was also followed till the Metro station by men and was asked for her name.

This is not the first time students from Gargi College were harassed during their college fest. “Last year too, I was groped by people on the college premises. This year it happened on a different scale altogether,” said an undergraduate student, requesting anonymity. Following last year’s incident, when “a rowdy crowd” had entered the college and harassed female students, the students introduced a system this year to ensure only men with valid passes could enter the campus.

“On Thursday morning itself, dozens of men entered the campus when the gate was open for a van which was bringing in furniture, etc,” said a third-year undergraduate student. “That was a sign of things to come.”

Several students HT spoke to said most of those who had barged inside the campus did not look like students. According to them, a huge crowd “pushed the gates and entered the college” and “administration also showed laxity by opening gates from time to time.”

The protesting students have demanded a written apology from the principal, a minimum security plan, and written answers to further questions over the budget for security within two days.

Congress’s Kalkaji Assembly candidate Shivani Chopra also condemned the incident.