The college decided to suspend classes for Wednesday and shift some sessions online as concerns over student safety grew.
The encounter took place near DM Office Road in Amar Colony, police said. Asif, one of the three accused in the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old at Astha Kunj Park on Monday (September 21), allegedly opened fire at a police team that had intercepted him.
According to police, Asif fired three rounds, one of which hit a head constable’s bulletproof jacket. The police team retaliated by firing two rounds in self-defence; one struck Asif in the right leg.
What happened at Astha Kunj Park?
The men allegedly separated the girl from her friend and took her to an isolated part of the park, where she was gang-raped. The girl subsequently underwent a medical examination at AIIMS and an FIR was registered at Amar Colony police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act.
The other two accused–Hemant, a lawyer, and his brother Mukesh, a final-year BSc Mathematics student–from Faridabad had visited Kalkaji Mandir before entering Aastha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7 on Monday evening, according to a News18 report. The father of the teenagers, advocate J R Dhankar, has claimed that the allegations against his sons are false, saying they were being framed.
Why did LSR suspend classes?
The college administration advised its students, teachers and members of the staff not to gather near the back gate. It said that it was in touch with the Delhi Police regarding security along the college perimeter. Guest faculty were also asked to hold their classes online on Wednesday.
Anusha Garg, president of the LSR Students’ Union, quoted by The Hindu report, said around 2,000–3,000 women students live in paying guest accommodation and other housing in the vicinity of Astha Kunj Park and attend the college.
In an emergency online meeting held on Tuesday, at 9 pm, the LSR Students’ Union said that the proximity of the encounter to the college had left many students “shaken and unsafe”, India Today reported.
The union said it planned to formally approach the Principal’s office with demands on strengthening security around the college perimeter. It also said it wanted the campus to be a “safe haven”, with student safety becoming a lived reality rather than remaining a stated objective.
“After we got to know about the unfortunate incident, we cancelled classes. The safety, security and well-being of our students is of paramount importance to us. We have requested our faculty mentors and college counsellor to remain available for any support students may require,” principal Kanika K Ahuja was quoted as saying by the PTI.
Amid safety concerns, some students said their parents had asked them to return home, while others were considering leaving Delhi temporarily.
