DU sttudent abduction: Student body slams police for inaction; accuses college of cover up

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 7

All India Students' Association (AISA) on Friday criticised Delhi Police for its tardy pace of investigations in tracing a second-year student of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (SPM) College who is believed to be abducted.

The study body blamed police for its lack of regard toward safety, claiming they conducted campus patrols only during Delhi University (DU) students’ union election. It also accused the college administration of cover up.

The college is affiliated to the DU.

A resident of Gurugram's Farrukhnagar, the student is believed to have been abducted in broad daylight on Monday from within the college at Punjabi Bagh. She was on way to an examination when she was allegedly kidnapped.

Her father claimed he received a call from a man who identified himself as Harish Yadav. The caller warned him against informing police.

“The Delhi Police has failed to trace her till now. This lawlessness around colleges in DU has become very rampant. It is shocking that the college administration is trying to downplay the matter and has shown no urgency in tracing the woman student,” said a member of AISA.

Its SPM unit convener, Neetu, said this incident would only lead to more girl students dropping out of colleges.

“It is already difficult for many young girls to convince their parents to let them study after Class 12. Many students are even married off before they can complete their graduation. And then if our friends are kidnapped in broad daylight just outside the college, it will be difficult for many women to continue their education.”

AISA DU Secretary Madhurima Kundu said: “The issue of safety of DU students, especially women, should be a matter for serious concern for the DU administration and the Delhi Police. But both have failed us.”

The development came days after a PhD student was stabbed on the Delhi University campus. A month ago, a law student was attacked by a group of people.

Both incidents happened around North Campus.

Girl students claim they face constant stalking and harassment around their colleges and have even alerted authorities, but no action has been taken.