Students from Delhi's Gargi College alleged that a group of men barged into campus and harassed the students of the all-women college on Thursday during their annual fest. The students also blamed college authorities on their inaction.
The college students' union confirmed that the incident happened around 4pm on February 6 during the third day of the college annual festival ‘Reverie’ was under way. Restrictions were in place and men were barred from attending the event. The event was open for boys studying in other Delhi University colleges and they were given passes. However, their ID could not be checked as the group broke the gates to enter the campus.
Students said that a large crowd of men barged into campus after breaking open the gate and started molesting girls, catcalling and passing lewd comments. Social media posts about the incident suggest that these men were drunk and they groped, masturbated at, catcalled and teased students present. They also alleged that the college administration told students not to come to college if they feel unsafe.
However, college authorities said that students have so far not registered any complaint with regard to the matter.
Promila Kumar, the principal of the college, said that there were enough security arrangements and personnel deployed in the premises. “No complaint has been filed. Police in uniform and plainclothes, commandos and bouncers were on duty. No such incident was reported to the administration,” she said. She added that there was an arena meant only for girls in the campus during the fest. “If they were outside that, it was their choice.”
