172 Girls Flees Hostel After Intruders Knock Door At Night, Principal Requests More Guards (image-facebook/K M Government Girls P G College, Badalpur, Gautambuddha Nagar)

172 out of 187 students of Kumari Mayawati Government Girls Polytechnic College, worried about their safety, left the campus after a group of men intruded into their hostel at night.

The principal on Wednesday requested the state education department to deploy additional security guards there. The incident had led to a protest on campus on Monday. Students said to Times of India that there had been repeated intrusions by this group over the past week.

Read also: “Severe Violation Of Religious Freedom” In India: US Commission

A first-year student at the hostel said to TOI that the group of men who barged into the hostel were mostly aged between 25 and 40. Another said that they even had to avoid going to washrooms at night fearing to spied on.

When most of the students at the hostel left, the remaining 15 moved into one room and kept watch by staying up at night.
As per the college officials, there are four hostels on campus which were opened 22 years ago and there had been no position for hostel wardens.

Currently, the college has four positions for security guards, two are deployed during the day and two at night in alternative shifts. The principal of the college, Shyam Narayan Singh said that if any one of them goes on leave, it becomes difficult to manage.

As per the officials, the campus needs at least 12 guards and dedicated posts for hostel wardens. However, positions at government-run residential colleges can only be created by the education department.

Principal SN Singh, in a letter addressed to the director of state technical education, said students are now unwilling to return to the campus due to safety concerns.

“The college has requested the state administration to expediate the installation of cameras and improve security. We acknowledge students’ concerns and we are committed to addressing them at the earliest”, the principal said.

The campus has the provision to install 16 CCTV cameras but currently, 10 have been set up and only six of them are operational.

Read also: Delhi Doctor Shot Dead At Hospital By 2 Minors After Treatment

Meanwhile, the students said to TOI that they shall not return to the 7.3-acre campus till their safety is ensured.
On Tuesday, the police spoke to the protesting students and increased patrols in the area near the college at night.