Outrage at South Asian University after alleged campus assault; students demand action

Protests erupted late night after the alleged sexual assault of a female student at Delhi’s South Asian University. Visuals showed students gathered in corridors, demanding action against the culprits, while the university administration addressed their issues from the other side of the halls.

The victim, apparently a first-year BTech student, has accused four men including a guard of tearing her clothes and attempting to gang rape in her statement to police, as per some reports. Initially, the police filed a case of molestation after receiving a PCR call at 3 pm on Monday from someone known to the girl. The incident reportedly happened at a construction site on campus.

SAU has reportedly issued a statement, though not officially available, that an enquiry committee has been set up to investigate the matter. The panel will submit its findings in 10 days.

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What angered students was the university’s alleged mistreatment of the victim, blaming her for stepping out with some saying that she is not mentally stable and caused harm to herself, reports suggested. Following a general body meeting, students demanded the resignation of the warden and dean of students, among others and the constitution of the gender sensitisation committee.

SAU students demand accountability

Holding the DoS and proctor accountable for the incident and questioning the silence of professors, a student said in a post on X, “Their silence speaks volumes. Their absence shows that they would let anything happen to their students as long as their hefty salaries are given to them. This is no educational institute. It is a money making machine where students are treated like absolute trash.”

“Students at South Asian University are treated as if they aren't even humans. They have to go through an assault and yet, most of them have to live with it in silence because of the punishment that is imposed if they speak,” she added.

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Meanwhile, a parent asked Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the matter. “my daughter came back today from her university- South Asian university and she was panicking because one of the girl was sexually assaulted by 4 men. This happened within the university campus. Pls look into the matter. Very shameful for the country,” he posted on X.