LSR classes put on hold as students protest after Kalkaji gangrape
Students gathered outside Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) on Wednesday to protest the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir and raise concerns over women's safety in the area.
The students reached the college amid heightened security and were seen protesting outside the campus. Talks between the protesting students and Delhi Police officials are currently underway.
The protest comes two days after a police encounter with one of the accused in the case took place near the college's back gate, around 50 metres from the campus. The accused, identified by police as Asif, was shot in the leg after police said he opened fire at a police team trying to apprehend him. He was subsequently taken into custody.
Following the encounter, LSR suspended physical classes and shifted teaching online on Tuesday. The college administration also advised students, faculty and staff not to gather near the back gate and said it was in communication with Delhi Police over security along the campus perimeter.
The protest also comes against the backdrop of security lapses identified at Aastha Kunj Park, where the alleged crime took place.
Investigations also found that the park did not have CCTV cameras at its entry and exit gates and was poorly lit after dusk. Portions of the boundary wall had also collapsed, while some gates were left unmanned.
The three accused in the case — Asif, Hemant and his younger brother Mukesh — were arrested on Tuesday. Police said Asif was apprehended after an exchange of fire near the LSR back gate, while Hemant and Mukesh were picked up from their residence.
According to police, the three men allegedly posed as policemen before approaching the 17-year-old girl and her male friend inside Aastha Kunj Park on Monday evening. The men allegedly separated the girl from her friend and took her to a secluded part of the park, where the alleged assault took place.
LSR has also sought increased police patrolling around the campus. Senior Delhi Police officers visited the college on Wednesday and held discussions with the principal regarding student safety. Police personnel, including women officers and PCR vans, have been deployed around the campus, according to PTI.
The protest and police-student talks are continuing as students seek answers over safety measures around the college and the surrounding areas.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 17:43 ISTRead | LSR to resume classes on Sept 24 after encounter near campus sparked safety concerns
