Sexual harassment case: students of Delhi University flag safety concerns

Campus safety has once again come under the spotlight at Delhi University after a 48-year-old cab driver, identified as Lom Shankar, was arrested on September 8 for allegedly molesting a postgraduate student.

According to police, the 22-year-old woman from Bengaluru booked a Rapido cab around 9.30 AM from Kalyan Vihar to reach the university. “The cab reached near her rented accommodation. She boarded the vehicle and sat in the front seat. She said the cab driver started talking to her, but she could not understand his language,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia.

Police said the accused began making inappropriate gestures, touched her inappropriately, and started masturbating. The woman spotted a women’s picket at Kranti Chowk near the campus and asked the driver to stop. However, he allegedly continued driving until reaching near the university, where he finally halted and fled after noticing the picket.

The woman immediately approached Head Constable Seema and narrated her ordeal. She was then taken to Maurice Nagar police station, where a complaint was filed. Police registered a case of molestation, seized the cab, and arrested the accused, a resident of Jhuggi Kabir Nagar in Rana Pratap Bagh. Shankar, married with three sons, had been working as a driver for 15 years. The survivor was counselled at the police station.

A Rapido spokesperson said: “Rapido unequivocally condemns the reported misconduct and is extending its full cooperation in the police investigation. Upon receiving the complaint, our teams activated emergency protocols and coordinated with law enforcement. At every stage, we kept the customer proactively informed to maintain complete transparency and reassurance.”

Students highlight unsafe spaces

The incident has fuelled long-standing concerns among students, who say several campus areas have turned into crime hotspots. Dark stretches, broken streetlights, and outsiders crowding near colleges have made students — particularly women — feel unsafe.

Around Miranda College, students said they try to clear the streets early in the evening. “There is a lot of cat-calling after a period of time, and that has made it extremely difficult to just be our own person here. We had highlighted this to the unions but it remains to be seen if these will be followed through,” said Pranjal Didwani, a second-year student.

Another Miranda student, requesting anonymity, said: “We try to head back home as early as possible during the student elections. It is fine on most instances when there is still light outside, but after six in the evening, the situation is much more grim. One of my friends was also followed along one of these stretches heading towards the metro.”

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Students also said they hesitate to report harassment. “Some have tried approaching the Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) of their respective colleges but that is the extent of the culture of complaining,” Didwani added.

Dark stretches around colleges

The road leading to St Stephen’s College from the Arts Faculty building is considered one of the most unsafe. While crowded in the day, it becomes deserted and pitch-dark at night.

“Most students avoid the stretch due to how dark it is. Especially girls, they prefer the longer route to feel safer,” said Vinayak, a student at Ramjas College.

Shreeja Bhattacharya, another student, recalled being followed in a rickshaw by a red SUV with three or four men inside. “The passenger seat was oddly turned around. They pulled over to our left and then tailed us for a few metres before driving off. I can’t stop replaying that moment in my head. My blood froze,” she said.

Students said the 1.6 km stretch along Kamla Nehru Ridge has long been unsafe, even during the day, with frequent cases of mobile snatching.

Streetlights out of service

From the Vishwavidyalaya Marg signal to the Delhi University PG Men’s Hostel, all street lights have been out of order since December 2023. Beyond the hostel, only three lamp posts function sporadically. The entire stretch between St Stephen’s College and Hindu College is completely dark, with 14 lamp posts not working.

A taxi driver, who did not wish to be named, said many students book cabs just to travel a few hundred metres from these dark spots to well-lit areas. “A police patrol unit is always stationed here, but that’s not enough to support the students,” he said.

A student added: “I’m glad the PCR van is stationed here, but there should be some lighting along this stretch. It’s the bare minimum, especially in an area with students. As a woman, I have to constantly look over my shoulder at night.”

Authorities said streetlight operations were paused due to pipeline maintenance. But students said the absence of lighting made even short commutes dangerous.

Limited policing adds to anxiety

Students pointed out that a police picket booth exists but closes by 6 pm. “This has only made what is supposed to be an inclusive space, only a bit more exclusive and a bit more patriarchal,” said Saloni Mittal of St Stephen’s College.

Despite police vans stationed in the area, students said harassment, stalking, and snatching continue. Many described relying on private transport apps or leaving campus early to avoid dark stretches altogether.

Past incidents deepen mistrust

Concerns about harassment on campus are not new. In December 2024, a Ramjas College student accused a professor of molestation after they shared an e-rickshaw. She alleged that he followed her to a metro station and tried to touch her inappropriately. The professor denied the charge, but the case was reported to the college’s ICC, heightening distrust among students.