New Delhi: The students of Gargi College have said that this was not the first time they faced harassment during their college fest but similar incidents took place last year too during the fest.
Recalling the last year’s incident, a third year student told IANS that even then, there was no action from the college administration.
Another student claimed that last year the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) was dissolved and there was no platform to raise the issue.
“This is not the first time that such an incident has happened during the college fest. Similar instances of molestation and abuse happened in 2019 as well,” recalled a student.
Another student said they have been demanding proper security but “instead we were told that it was us who want to have these fests and so we should bear the consequences as well.”
The students of the women’s college, affiliated to Delhi University and situated in the south campus, alleged that on February 6 some drunken men reportedly entered college and manhandled the students. It happened on Day 3 of the annual festival ‘Reverie’.
The angry students of the women’s college protested against the administration on Monday inside the campus demanding action.
“The college should have learnt from the 2019 incident. That was a hint that they should have ensured security this time. But instead, things went out of hand and even more girls were harassed this time,” said another second year student.
Recalling the evening of February 6, the students said they were stuck in the constantly increasing mob for about 40-60 minutes.
“We were constantly being touched by the men in the crowd. They were not students from other colleges but middle-aged drunk men. A number of girls were harassed. I too was assaulted by three men. They stood around me and were touching me. I was finding it difficult to breathe or move,” recalled a 21-year-old student.
The protesting students held a meeting with the Principal and the Proctor on Monday but they are yet to get any response from the administration.
The students said they will continue the protest until they get any satisfactory response from the administration.
Meanwhile, both the National Commission of Women (NCW) and Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) visited the college campus on Monday and met the students.
