Hundreds of students of Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) took out a solidarity march on Wednesday evening, passing through areas linked to the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Astha Kunj Park and the subsequent police encounter.
The women-only march started from the National Park near the college’s back gate and ended at SD Office Road near Moolchand, with a brief sit-in near the spot where Asif, one of the three accused men, was shot in the leg during an exchange of fire with the police. The shoot-out took place barely 50 metres from the back gate. Following the incident, the college suspended regular classes at noon on Tuesday and announced online classes for Wednesday.
Students said the march was intended to reclaim spaces they use every day and send a message that the incident would not dictate where or when women could move.
“We want freedom from rape culture, moral policing and patriarchy,” a student said during the march.
The demonstration was held amid a heavy police presence, with personnel managing traffic and accompanying the students as the march moved through busy stretches of Nehru Place and Kailash Colony during the evening rush hour.
“When I came to college yesterday as usual and headed towards the back gate to park my car, there were barricades and police all around. There were blood splashes on the road. It was very scary. Nothing felt safe despite the police being there,” said Aakriti Yati, a second-year journalism student.
Ms. Yati, who travels daily from Greater Noida, said her parents had bought her a car earlier this year after repeated experiences of harassment while she travelled by Metro.
She recalled seeing men engaging in obscene sexual behaviour near Moolchand metro station and on the road towards the college, incidents she said had made her and her family uncomfortable about her commuting alone.
Unease prevails
The unease was particularly pronounced among students living in PGs and rented accommodation around the college. Janvi, a third-year student who lives in Prakash Mohalla near the park, said she and several other students learnt about the incident only after reaching college on Tuesday.
“Two of my friends were in the park around 7 p.m. on the day of the incident. This could be any of us,” she said, adding that students frequently shared messages about men teasing or harassing women in the area but rarely saw sustained action.
Ms. Janvi said students frequently shared messages about men teasing or harassing women in the area, but rarely saw sustained action.
“I’ve seen a man masturbating just 200 metres away from the college gate, on the way back home. On the way to Kailash Colony Metro, I saw another man doing the same. It is very disheartening that these things are happening in broad daylight and no one is taking any action,” she added.
Raising concerns
Questioning why they had not been informed about the incident before coming to college on Tuesday, the students sought a formal mechanism for communicating verified safety advisories during emergencies.
They also called for the sensitisation of security guards and raised concerns about insensitive remarks and stereotyping by some faculty members.
The impact was visible around Astha Kunj Park on Wednesday, with the usually active area appearing quieter and students largely absent. Autos continued to line the Nehru Place road, but drivers said the number of students using the route was lower than usual.
Police assure action
Meanwhile, senior Delhi Police officers, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar, visited the college on Wednesday and held a meeting with the principal, assuring the administration that police presence in and around the campus would be increased and immediate assistance provided in case of any emergency, an official said.
The police will also write to the civic and other authorities concerned regarding improving infrastructure, including lighting at dark spots in the area, the official added.
The police have increased patrolling around educational institutions, including foot and scooter patrols and women police teams near LSR, Maurice Nagar and Delhi University’s North Campus.
South East Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Vineet Kumar said CCTV cameras at Gate 7 of Astha Kunj Park, through which the victim and her friend entered, were not functional.
“Police used footage from other cameras covering the area to identify and apprehend the accused,” Mr. Kumar added.
The DCP clarified that entry to the park has not been restricted and that it continues to remain open according to Delhi Development Authority timings.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – September 24, 2026 12:13 am IST
