On 6 February 2020, at around 6:30 PM , a group of intoxicated men entered the campus of Gargi College, a women's college affiliated to University of Delhi. The incidents happened during the annual cultural fest of the college, Reverie. Reportedly, the students were sexually assaulted by  the mob. It was also reported that some of the men masturbated in front of the female students. An FIR was registered by the principal of Gargi College against unknown persons who allegedly assaulted students of the college on 10 February 2020, after three days of the incidents . A fact-finding committee had also been created by the college administration to gather relevant information on the incidents. The Delhi Police said an inspector of Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell has been designated as the investigation officer in the case and the Additional DCP of South Delhi has been designated as the inquiry officer to investigate all aspects related to the case . Police arrested 12 suspects accused in the case who are aged between 18 and 25 years of age; 10 were arrested on 12 February 2020, and 2 were arrested on 13 February 2020. But on 14 February 2020, the initial ten accused who were arrested were released on bail. Later, the police arrested five more suspects and the number of arrests raised to seventeen as of 18 February 2020.  The incidents The annual cultural fest of Gargi College was scheduled to hold from 4 to 6 February 2020. On 6 February 2020, the final day, a music concert was organised for which playback singer Jubin Nautiyal was invited to perform. The crowd began to form around 3:30 pm around both gates of the campus.  Since the college is a women's college, men are only allowed to enter with passes and the entry was scheduled to close after 4:30 pm . Reportedly the gates remained open for a longer time and identifications and passes were not  checked for the men's entry. Some reports say that the gate was not damaged at first, an administration official had opened the gates to give entry to a car, and the mass including many non-college students, rushed inside. The influx of the crowd continued for hours. It was reported that 5,000 to 10,000 individuals gathered in and around the campus. According to organisers of fest , the expected crowd was around 6000 ; 3000 college students and around 3000 more through entry passes. According to the eye-witnesses' testimonies and social media posts, the mob entered around 6:30 pm. It was reported that the men were middle-aged and came in trucks. Students said that those men did not appear to be students  and some reports also claimed the men were returning from a pro-CAA rally who were shouting "Jai Shri Ram". The mob destroyed the campus gates . Some of them climbed over the walls and damaged students' vehicles. The men walked around drunk and shirtless. They brought with them alcohol, cigarettes and weed. They assaulted women and chased them in the campus . One student told NDTV that she wanted to report verbal harassment to the Proctor but she could not as signal jammers were installed for the fest. Students also complained to the management that it was planned as some of the men carried eggs and threw them at the students. One student said the crowd was "massive" and she was unable to move out and had to stay inside the campus for 40 minutes. When she went out in an open space, one of the men started masturbating at her. As soon as she escaped, a first-year student ran to her and said that a group of five or six men were cornering her to molest . Some of the students , through social media posts, said that they were even followed to their hostels and accommodations  and some were followed to  metro station when they left the campus. Security lapse and police inaction The students alleged that college security personnel were present during the incidents and when they observed the incidents, they did not intervene, even when specifically asked to do so. The Economic Times reported that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police personnel were also stationed close to the entrance of the campus from where the mob entered the college. Students said the RAF and police personnel did nothing. One of the students told the NDTV that they have captured those visuals and can prove the police's inaction and college security's incompetence. Repetition of last year's incidents It has been found out that such incidents are not new to the campus. Similar incidents were also previously reported. According to complaints filed a year back, similar incidents of groping, shoving elbows on breast, purposefully falling on one's body, passing explicit and derogatory comments, suggestive stares, throwing alcohol on body, forcing to talk, were brought to notice, which are now being repeated again. Aftermath The incident came to mainstream media when students posted narrations of their experiences in Instagram. Around 100 students protested outside the gate of the college and it continued as of 16 February 2020. They alleged that even after the incidents were brought to the notice of the college management, they did not take any necessary steps. Since 10 February the students are sitting for dharna from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and their demands are an apology from the college principal, assurance of a safe campus and action against the perpetrators.  Some of the students who were harassed complained to the principal and others. The principal, Dr. Kumar was reportedly heard saying, "Why come to the fests, if you do not feel safe." A girl stated, "It was scary and traumatic, and the administration refused to help." The studentslater shared their experiences on Instagram." The students ' Union blamed the administration and called the Principal's statement "infuriating and appalling".  Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) supported the students and joined the protest where students have been demanding a safe campus as multiple cases of violence and attacks were witnessed in recent times in Delhi citing JNU attack, Jamia attack along with these assaults inside a campus. Commissions for Women The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief, Swati Maliwal interviewed some of the students and asked the Principal Dr. Kumar to appear before the commission. FIR registered On 10 February 2020, after three days of the incidents, Dr. Promila Kumar, the principal of Gargi College, made a complaint at the Hauz Khas Police Station against unknown men who allegedly molested the students in the evening of 6 February 2020. A FIR was registered and the case has been lodged under sections 452 (trespass), 354 (assault or criminal force intend to outrage modesty of women) and 509 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of Indian Penal Code. Police investigation On 10 February 2020, the DCP of South Delhi stated that a police inspector of the Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell has been designated as investigation officer in the case while the Additional DCP of South Delhi, Geetanjali Khandelwal, would oversee the investigation. On the same day, police collected evidence and statements from witnesses. The team also scanned CCTV footage from the cameras at the college gate to get evidence. On 12 February 2020, the Commissioner of Police (South Delhi), Atul Kumar Thakur stated that 11 teams of Delhi Police had been working on the case. CCTV footage revealed that some of the men broke the college gate to gain access, while some jumped over barricades. The security team at the gate was outnumbered by the mob. Some suspects were identified using this footage. Petition for court-monitored CBI inquiry On 13 February 2020, a lawyer filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged molestation and sought arrest of the perpetrator behind the "planned criminal conspiracy". The petitioner told the court that it could be a "criminal conspiracy hatched by the political party" and raised concerns that the electronic evidence could be destroyed. In response, the top court said that the Delhi High Court can pass an order for the authorities to preserve the evidence. Though the court had refused to entertain the petition and directed the petitioner to move the same to the Delhi High Court. Thus the PIL moved to the High Court, where the court has agreed to hear the petition and listed for hearing on 17 February 2020. Identification and arrests On 12 February 2020, Delhi Police said that 30 suspects were identified and arrested ten students in connection to the alleged assaults. The police stated that the accused were for the most part local university students. A day later, police arrested two more people involved in the incidents. But on the following day, on 14 February, the initial ten accused who were arrested and sent to 14 days of judicial custody, were granted bail by a Delhi court and were released on a surety of रु 10,000 each. Police said the CCTV footage that they have only establishes the arrested persons "barging into the college premises by damaging a gate" but not their involvement in molestation. Later, The police arrested two on 14 February, one on 16 February and two on 18 February and thus seventeen individual were arrested as of 18 February. Reaction Student's protest Students posted descriptions of their "unpleasant experiences" in Instagram. Later, on 10 February 2020, around 100 students started a protest outside the college gate. The next day more students joined and boycotted classes and started dharna from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and this continued as of 16 February 2020. Reaction from political leaders Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal condemned the misbehavior with the women students and tweeted that the incident was “extremely unfortunate” and the accused must be brought to justice. Deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia called the incidents as "disgusting". Sisodia mentioned in his tweet that "fests are opportunities to celebrate the cultural diversity" but "anti-social elements saw this fest as another chance to inflict harassment and violence on students". BJP chief, Manoj Tiwari tweeted that the incident is highly condemnable and culprits should be apprehended immediately.
On 6 February 2020, at around 6:30 pm , a group of intoxicated men entered the campus of Gargi College, a women's college affiliated to University of Delhi. The incidents happened during the annual cultural fest of the college, Reverie. Reportedly, some students were sexually assaulted by members of the mob. It was also reported that some of the men masturbated in front of the female students. An FIR was registered by the principal of Gargi College three days later . A fact-finding committee was created by the college administration to gather relevant information on the incidents. The Delhi Police said an inspector of Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell was designated as the investigation officer in the case and the Additional DCP of South Delhi was designated as the inquiry officer . Police arrested 10 suspects on 12 February 2020, and two more 13 February 2020. Police later arrested five more suspects , bringing the number of arrests to seventeen as of 18 February 2020. On 14 February 2020, the initial ten accused were released on bail. The incidents The annual cultural fest of Gargi College was scheduled to hold from 4 to 6 February 2020. On 6 February 2020, the final day, a music concert was organised for which playback singer Jubin Nautiyal was invited to perform. The crowd began to form around 3:30 pm around both gates of the campus. Entry was scheduled to close after 4:30 pm. Since the college is a women's college, men are only allowed to enter with passes . Reportedly the gates remained open for a longer time and identifications and passes were not properly checked for the men's entry. Some reports say that the gate was not damaged at first, an administration official had opened the gates to give entry to a car, and many people rushed inside. The influx of the crowd continued for hours. It was reported that 5,000 to 10,000 individuals gathered in and around the campus. According to organisers , the expected crowd was around 6000 , 3000 college students and around 3000 more through entry passes. According to the eye-witnesses' testimonies and social media posts, the mob entered around 6:30 pm. One report said that the men were middle-aged and came in trucks. Students said that those men did not appear to be students , and some reports claimed the men were returning from a pro-CAA rally who were shouting "Jai Shri Ram". This mob destroyed the campus gates , and some of them climbed over the walls and damaged students' vehicles. The men walked around drunk and shirtless. They brought with them alcohol, cigarettes and weed. They assaulted women and chased them . One student told NDTV that she wanted to report verbal harassment to the Proctor but she could not as signal jammers were installed for the fest. Some students noted that the incursion appeared to be planned, as some of the men carried eggs and threw them at the students. One student said the crowd was "massive" and she was unable to move out and had to stay inside the campus for 40 minutes. When she went out in an open space, one of the men started masturbating at her. As soon as she escaped, a first-year student ran to her and said that a group of five or six men appeared to be attempting to surround her . Some of the students posted on social media that they were followed to their hostels and accommodations , and some were followed to the metro station when they left the campus. Security lapse and police inaction The students alleged that college security personnel were present and when they observed the incidents, they did not intervene, even when specifically asked to do so. The Economic Times reported that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Delhi Police personnel were stationed close to the entrance of the campus from where the mob entered the college. Students said the RAF and police personnel did nothing. Aftermath The incident came to mainstream media when students posted narrations of their experiences in Instagram. Around 100 students protested outside the gate of the college from 10 February until 16 February 2020, sitting for dharna from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to demand an apology from the college principal, assurance of a safe campus and action against the perpetrators. They alleged that even after the incidents were brought to the notice of the college management, they did not take any necessary steps. Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) supported the students and joined the protest. Some of the students who were harassed complained to the principal and others. The principal, Dr. Kumar was reportedly heard saying, "Why come to the fests, if you do not feel safe." The students ' Union blamed the administration and called the Principal's statement "infuriating and appalling". A girl stated, "It was scary and traumatic, and the administration refused to help." Commissions for Women The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief, Swati Maliwal interviewed some of the students and asked the Principal Dr. Kumar to appear before the commission. Police investigation On 10 February 2020, after three days of the incidents, Dr. Promila Kumar, the principal of Gargi College, made a complaint at the Hauz Khas Police Station . A FIR was registered and the case was lodged under sections 452 (trespass), 354 (assault or criminal force intend to outrage modesty of women) and 509 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of Indian Penal Code. Also on 10 February 2020, the DCP of South Delhi stated that a police inspector of the Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell had been designated as investigation officer in the case while the Additional DCP of South Delhi, Geetanjali Khandelwal, would oversee the investigation. On 12 February 2020, the Commissioner of Police (South Delhi), Atul Kumar Thakur stated that 11 teams of Delhi Police were working on the case. Police collected evidence and statements from witnesses and scanned CCTV footage from the cameras at the college gate to get evidence. CCTV footage revealed that some of the men broke the college gate to gain access, while some jumped over barricades. The security team at the gate was outnumbered by the mob. Some suspects were identified using this footage. Petition for court-monitored CBI inquiry On 13 February 2020, a lawyer filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged molestation and sought arrest of the perpetrators behind the "planned criminal conspiracy". The petitioner told the court that it could be a "criminal conspiracy hatched by the political party" and raised concerns that the electronic evidence could be destroyed. In response, the top court said that the Delhi High Court can pass an order for the authorities to preserve the evidence. Though the court had refused to entertain the petition and directed the petitioner to move the same to the Delhi High Court. Thus the PIL moved to the High Court, where the court has agreed to hear the petition and listed for hearing on 17 February 2020. Identification and arrests On 12 February 2020, Delhi Police said that 30 suspects were identified and arrested ten students in connection to the alleged assaults. The police stated that the accused were for the most part local university students. A day later, police arrested two more people . On 14 February, the initial ten accused were granted bail by a Delhi court and were released on a surety of रु 10,000 each. Police said the CCTV footage that they have only establishes the arrested persons "barging into the college premises by damaging a gate" but not their involvement in molestation. The police arrested one more person on 16 February and two on 18 February , for a total of seventeen arrests. Reaction from political leaders Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal condemned the misbehavior with the women students and tweeted that the incident was "extremely unfortunate" and the accused must be brought to justice. Deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia called the incidents as "disgusting". Sisodia mentioned in his tweet that "fests are opportunities to celebrate the cultural diversity" but "anti-social elements saw this fest as another chance to inflict harassment and violence on students". BJP chief, Manoj Tiwari tweeted that the incident is highly condemnable and culprits should be apprehended immediately.
R
PM
pm
R
the
some
A
members of
R
against unknown persons who allegedly assaulted students of the college on 10 February 2020, after three days of the incidents
three days later
R
had also been
was
R
has been
was
R
has been
was
D
to investigate all aspects related to the case
D
12 suspects accused in the case who are aged between 18 and 25 years of age;
R
were arrested
suspects
R
2 were arrested on
two more
R
But on 14 February 2020, the initial ten accused who were arrested were released on bail. Later, the police arrested
Police later arrested
R
and
, bringing
D
raised
A
On 14 February 2020, the initial ten accused were released on bail.
A
Entry was scheduled to close after 4:30 pm.
D
and the entry was scheduled to close after 4:30 pm
A
properly
R
the mass including many non-college students,
many people
D
of fest
R
;
,
R
It was reported
One report said
A
,
D
also
R
The
This
R
. Some
, and some
D
in the campus
R
Students also complained to the management that it was planned
Some students noted that the incursion appeared to be planned,
R
were cornering her to molest
appeared to be attempting to surround her
R
, through social media posts, said
posted on social media
D
even
A
,
A
the
D
during the incidents
D
also
D
One of the students told the NDTV that they have captured those visuals and can prove the police's inaction and college security's incompetence.
D
Repetition of last year's incidents It has been found out that such incidents are not new to the campus. Similar incidents were also previously reported. According to complaints filed a year back, similar incidents of groping, shoving elbows on breast, purposefully falling on one's body, passing explicit and derogatory comments, suggestive stares, throwing alcohol on body, forcing to talk, were brought to notice, which are now being repeated again.
R
and it continued as of
from 10 February until
R
2020. They alleged that even after the incidents were brought to the notice of the college management, they did not take any necessary steps. Since 10 February the students are
2020,
R
and their demands are
to demand
A
They alleged that even after the incidents were brought to the notice of the college management, they did not take any necessary steps. Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) supported the students and joined the protest.
R
A girl stated, "It was scary and traumatic, and the administration refused to help." The studentslater shared their experiences on Instagram." The students
The students
A
A girl stated, "It was scary and traumatic, and the administration refused to help."
D
Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) supported the students and joined the protest where students have been demanding a safe campus as multiple cases of violence and attacks were witnessed in recent times in Delhi citing JNU attack, Jamia attack along with these assaults inside a campus.
R
FIR registered
Police investigation
R
against unknown men who allegedly molested the students in the evening of 6 February 2020.
.
R
has been
was
R
Police investigation On
Also on
R
has
had
D
the same day, police collected evidence and statements from witnesses. The team also scanned CCTV footage from the cameras at the college gate to get evidence.
D
On
R
had been
were
R
CCTV footage
Police collected evidence and statements from witnesses and scanned CCTV footage from the cameras at the college gate to get evidence. CCTV footage
R
perpetrator
perpetrators
R
involved in the incidents. But on the following day, on
. On
R
who were arrested and sent to 14 days of judicial custody, were
were
D
Later,
R
two on 14 February, one
one more person
R
and thus seventeen individual were arrested as of 18 February.
, for a total of seventeen arrests.
D
Reaction Student's protest Students posted descriptions of their "unpleasant experiences" in Instagram. Later, on 10 February 2020, around 100 students started a protest outside the college gate. The next day more students joined and boycotted classes and started dharna from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and this continued as of 16 February 2020.
R
“extremely unfortunate”
"extremely unfortunate"