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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
Nearly three days after a medical student was raped barely 500 metres from the Delhi Police headquarters, the cops are still clueless about the culprits.
What has made matters worse for the shocked students of the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College is the apparent indifference of the officials, who still have not recorded the statement of the victim.
The agitation of the students finally boiled over on Monday when they boycotted their examinations to register their protest against the tardiness of the Delhi police and the apathy of the college authorities towards tighter security measures.
The students also refused to take any other examination until their demands were met, and wanted a stop to be put on all tests.
But the MAMC dean of students, Dr B K Dhovan, expressed his inability to postpone the examinations saying, "The examination is conducted by the Delhi University and the students of three medical colleges take the exams together. When the students did not go in till 11.30 to their examination rooms, we spoke to the university authorities and asked them for help. They have agreed to conduct today's examination on November 25."
He said that many have agreed to take part in the exams from Tuesday onwards, adding that some of the demands of the students would take at least two weeks to be fulfilled.
He claimed that the incident took place outside the campus area, and therefore the security guards could not be blamed.
But the students have a different story to tell.
"We have had many incidents in past one year, where people in cars and motorcycles pass comments on the girls. Sometimes even obscene gestures are made. We have complained many times, but the college authorities have taken no action so far," a third-year student said.
Another woman student complained that on many days the staff deployed by the private security firm was found drunk.
After the incident only 10 women students have decided to stay put in the hostels. "There were 200 women students using two hostels. But after the incident only handful of them are left behind. These are those students who have come from far-off places and have no alternative accommodation," explained a student union leader.
The students, among other things, have demanded restricted entry into the campus through the six exit and entry gates. "They should insist on ID cards for entry. No autorickshaw or taxi should be allowed inside," a student said.
Speaking to rediff.com Deputy Commissioner of Police Arvind Deep claimed that they have managed to identify the culprits and would catch them soon.
Asked whether they have recorded the statement of the victim, Deep replied, "You would appreciate that we have got this case through the institute and the complaint has not come directly to us. Hence we are trying to talk to her through the college authorities only. Since the exams are on, we do not want to disturb the victim."
He said that a senior woman police officer has been deputed to talk to the victim.
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