LD ENGG HOSTEL GUARD SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, GIRLS FEAR FOR SAFETY
Drunk peon gropes female security guard at the newly constructed girls’ hostel near Gujarat University. Students say that if a guard is not safe, how can college ensure their safety?
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, August 08, 2013
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, August 08, 2013
(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20130808201308080207322157cee65e1/LD-ENGG-HOSTEL-GUARD-SEXUALLY-ASSAULTED-GIRLS-FEAR-FOR-SAFETY.html
A 24-year-old female security guard at the new girls’ hostel on LD Engineering College campus was sexually assaulted by a drunk peon, her father’s age, after she spurned his advances. The incident has left the occupants of the hostel terrified. They now fear for their own safety. As many as 146 girls pursuing their undergraduate course stay in the new hostel that was inaugurated only 20 days ago.
“When the security guard who is supposed to protect us is not safe, how can the college guarantee our safety?” complains a girl on condition of anonymity. What compounds their fear is also that the hostel is located in a remote corner on the campus, with an unlocked, unoccupied bungalow adjacent to it. The question raised by the hostel students is justified, says a source, who was witness to the incident on the night of August 3.
“Two female security guards have been deployed at the newly built girls hostel. Around midnight on August 3, Bharat Patel, our college peon, came there sloshed and groped Aarti (name changed). When she resisted and started screaming for help, he shouted at her saying he could give her a good life if she was willing. Shocked, the other guard called up the security supervisor. Soon, male guards rushed to the hostel and threw him out.
Patel even hurled abuses at those guards,” said a source. Aarti immediately reported the matter to warden Mansi Panchal before submitting a written complaint, demanding strict action against Patel. The warden forwarded the complaint to the principal, seeking action against the peon. When Mirror contacted Patel, a resident of Ranip, he first denied such an incident had taken place. “I admit I was drunk but nothing of that sort took place. It is an attempt to malign me. I did not molest anybody,” he initially said. Then, as an afterthought, he added, “The matter has been amicably resolved. There is no official complaint against me.”
‘NO BOUNDARY WALL’
One of the hostel inmates told Mirror, "The building is in an isolated location and without a boundary wall. An unoccupied bungalow which is not even locked is located adjacent to our hostel. “If someone is forcibly taken there and something untoward happens nobody will come to know of it. Besides it is now evident that the security provided to us is not enough." Another student told Mirror, “We have to walk down to the boys’ hostel to fill drinking water since we haven't been given a water connection. It is scary but we have no choice. We go in a group."
‘NO WATER, NO CCTV’
Panchal, the warden, said, “A committee has been formed to inquire into the matter. It is a case of sexual harassment. Strict punitive action will be taken against the peon if he is found guilty.” She admitted that the new hostel lacks basic facilities like drinking water and CCTV cameras. “There is no drinking water facility and no CCTV cameras. The hostel does not even have a boundary wall. But it is the responsibility of Public Works Division and Roads and Buildings department to provide these facilities.” Principal M N Patel said, “I have received a complaint of sexual harassment against the college peon. An inquiry committee has been instituted to probe the incident. Whatever decision the committee takes will be implemented.”
A 24-year-old female security guard at the new girls’ hostel on LD Engineering College campus was sexually assaulted by a drunk peon, her father’s age, after she spurned his advances. The incident has left the occupants of the hostel terrified. They now fear for their own safety. As many as 146 girls pursuing their undergraduate course stay in the new hostel that was inaugurated only 20 days ago.
“When the security guard who is supposed to protect us is not safe, how can the college guarantee our safety?” complains a girl on condition of anonymity. What compounds their fear is also that the hostel is located in a remote corner on the campus, with an unlocked, unoccupied bungalow adjacent to it. The question raised by the hostel students is justified, says a source, who was witness to the incident on the night of August 3.
“Two female security guards have been deployed at the newly built girls hostel. Around midnight on August 3, Bharat Patel, our college peon, came there sloshed and groped Aarti (name changed). When she resisted and started screaming for help, he shouted at her saying he could give her a good life if she was willing. Shocked, the other guard called up the security supervisor. Soon, male guards rushed to the hostel and threw him out.
Patel even hurled abuses at those guards,” said a source. Aarti immediately reported the matter to warden Mansi Panchal before submitting a written complaint, demanding strict action against Patel. The warden forwarded the complaint to the principal, seeking action against the peon. When Mirror contacted Patel, a resident of Ranip, he first denied such an incident had taken place. “I admit I was drunk but nothing of that sort took place. It is an attempt to malign me. I did not molest anybody,” he initially said. Then, as an afterthought, he added, “The matter has been amicably resolved. There is no official complaint against me.”
‘NO BOUNDARY WALL’
One of the hostel inmates told Mirror, "The building is in an isolated location and without a boundary wall. An unoccupied bungalow which is not even locked is located adjacent to our hostel. “If someone is forcibly taken there and something untoward happens nobody will come to know of it. Besides it is now evident that the security provided to us is not enough." Another student told Mirror, “We have to walk down to the boys’ hostel to fill drinking water since we haven't been given a water connection. It is scary but we have no choice. We go in a group."
‘NO WATER, NO CCTV’
Panchal, the warden, said, “A committee has been formed to inquire into the matter. It is a case of sexual harassment. Strict punitive action will be taken against the peon if he is found guilty.” She admitted that the new hostel lacks basic facilities like drinking water and CCTV cameras. “There is no drinking water facility and no CCTV cameras. The hostel does not even have a boundary wall. But it is the responsibility of Public Works Division and Roads and Buildings department to provide these facilities.” Principal M N Patel said, “I have received a complaint of sexual harassment against the college peon. An inquiry committee has been instituted to probe the incident. Whatever decision the committee takes will be implemented.”
