DCW report flags lack of coordination between police, IP College as major factor in fest harassment incident

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has highlighted a lack of coordination between police and Indraprastha College as well as inadequate security arrangements as major issues in its report on a recent incident of harassment at the educational institution.

According to the DCW, four people were injured and a girl even sustained a fracture during the incident. The commission has put forward its interim recommendations to the city police, IP College for Women, and Delhi University.

“The fact that such incidents are repeatedly occurring in the capital where girls are harassed in their own college fests is a matter of grave concern,” said the DCW. “The commission launched an enquiry into the issue and summoned senior officials from Delhi Police, IP College, and Delhi University.”

The DCW pointed out that similar incidents have occurred in the past in other DU colleges, such as Miranda House and Gargi College. The panel said it has identified some glaring problems, adding that “These must be rectified at the earliest to ensure that such cases of sexual harassment in colleges are not repeated in the future.”

The DCW also issued recommendations to Delhi Police, Delhi University and the college regarding the sexual harassment of girls at the college’s annual fest.

“The Delhi Commission for Women took suo mom cognizance of the recent case of sexual harassment with several girls in the college fest at IP college, Delhi University. It was reported that on 28.03.2023, men barged into IP college during a fest and molested several girls. They even allegedly shouted slogans, “Miranda IP dono hamara. Miranda nahi choda to IP bhi nahi chodenge,” read a notice by the women’s panel.

“Further, the Commission observed that after the IP college incident, several girl students protested for many days against the alleged apathy of IP college officials and the failure of the system in protecting them,” it read.

According to the official notice, the police, DU and the college authorities have to appear before the panel with a list of guidelines and the mechanisms that they have put in place to ensure that there is no recurrence of such incidents.

“In 2020, some people forced their way into Gargi College premises during a fest and molested the girl students. Again, in 2022, some male students forced their way into Miranda College and harassed the girl students. These incidents are emerging repeatedly in colleges of Delhi University which raise serious concerns regarding the safety of girl students therein, especially during a college fest,” read the notice.

The Commission demanded a copy of the FIR registered in the matter along with details of the arrested accused. The Commission has also sought details of security arrangements made by Delhi Police and college authorities during the fest.

The commission asked the police, Delhi University and the colleges concerned to submit an Action Taken Report by April 18. (With inputs from PTI)