New Delhi, September 23, 2026: Safety concerns around Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) have intensified after students raised complaints about inadequate street lighting, alleged stalking incidents and limited security near the college’s back gate. The concerns came days after the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at nearby Aastha Kunj Park and a subsequent police encounter close to the college campus.
Students Raise Concerns Over Dark Stretches
Several LSR students said they feel particularly uncomfortable using the road near the college’s back gate after evening hours. Students living in paying guest accommodations in nearby areas also said the route between the college and their residences is an important part of their daily commute.
One third-year student told Oneindia that the area near the back gate had previously witnessed incidents of obscene behaviour and was particularly unsafe in the evening. Another student, speaking anonymously, alleged that the stretch remains poorly lit and that women have experienced stalking while walking in the area.
Students also questioned the functioning of a Delhi Police pink booth in the vicinity. According to student accounts reported by the media, the booth has at times appeared unmanned.
Security Concerns Extend Beyond the College Gate
Students have stressed that security cannot be limited to the college premises. Roads leading toward nearby residential areas, routes used to reach public transport and the surroundings of Aastha Kunj Park are also part of students’ regular journeys.
The concerns have gained additional significance because the police encounter involving one of the accused in the Aastha Kunj case took place roughly 50 metres from LSR’s back gate.
The alleged rape itself occurred inside Aastha Kunj Park on September 21. According to police accounts reported by multiple outlets, three men allegedly approached the teenager and her male friend while posing as police officers before separating them inside the park. The three accused were subsequently arrested.
Aastha Kunj Park Security Under Scrutiny
The incident has also brought attention to security conditions inside Aastha Kunj Park.
Investigators and media reports have highlighted the absence of CCTV cameras at the park’s entry and exit points, poor lighting, damaged sections of the boundary wall and gates that were not consistently guarded.
These findings have prompted broader questions about security infrastructure in public spaces used by students and other residents after dark.
LSR Moves Classes Online
Following the incident and the nearby police encounter, LSR suspended physical classes and shifted classes online for Wednesday. The college also advised students, faculty members and staff to avoid gathering around the back-gate area.
The administration has sought increased police patrolling around the campus, while Delhi Police personnel, including women officers and PCR vans, have been deployed around the college, according to reports.
The college is expected to resume its regular offline schedule on Thursday, September 24.
Students Demand Concrete Security Measures
Students have called for several measures to address their concerns, including:
- Improved and functioning street lighting near the back gate and surrounding roads
- Regular police patrolling, particularly during evening hours
- Consistent staffing of women’s assistance facilities
- Better surveillance and security infrastructure
- Safety audits of routes connecting the college with nearby PG accommodations and public transport
- Greater coordination between the college administration, police and civic authorities
Students also organised a protest on Wednesday and held discussions with Delhi Police officials regarding safety around the campus and surrounding neighbourhood.
The concerns raised by LSR students have therefore expanded the conversation beyond the specific Aastha Kunj case to the broader issue of how lighting, surveillance, policing and public infrastructure affect women’s safety around educational institutions after dark.
