Lady Shri Ram College for Women called off in-person classes on Tuesday and moved to an online format for Wednesday following the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir, a development that has raised safety concerns among students in the area.
The college, roughly 2 km from the park, said protecting its students remained its foremost concern, according to PTI. Principal Kanika K Ahuja said classes were cancelled as soon as the college learned of the incident, adding that faculty mentors and the college counsellor had been asked to stay available for any student who needed support.
The girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men inside the park on Monday evening. Police said the accused first posed as police officers, separating the girl from her 17-year-old male friend before taking her to an isolated part of the park.
According to police, the two teenagers had visited Kalkaji Mandir before entering the park through Gate 7. The accused reportedly approached them claiming to be police officers, warning that they could be booked for being minors inside the park. They then allegedly pulled the girl away from her friend, took her to a secluded spot, and assaulted her. Her friend was also allegedly beaten, and police say both were threatened by the accused.
An FIR was filed under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act. The girl underwent a medical examination at AIIMS, while crime scene and forensic teams gathered evidence at the location.
Arrests and a shootout
All three accused were arrested on Tuesday. During the arrest of one suspect, identified as Asif, near DM Office Road in Amar Colony, he allegedly opened fire on the police team — three rounds were fired, one of which struck head constable Rajesh’s bulletproof vest. Police returned fire, hitting Asif in the leg. The accused were identified as Hemant, a lawyer; his brother Mukesh, a final-year BSc Mathematics student; and Asif, an onion wholesaler.
Police said they are examining whether the men may be linked to similar incidents at the park in the past, though no related complaints have surfaced so far.
The case has unsettled students and staff at the college, prompting the shift to online classes as an immediate precautionary step.
