Despite police presence, students complain of eveteasing in Sector 36

Akashdeep Virk

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

Amidst the strikes and protests by resident doctors across the nation, the issue of women’s safety has taken centre stage once again. The students of colleges here, especially those of Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women in Sector 36, have been complaining of boys following them to their accommodations in their vehicles and also of misbehaving with them at times.

While the police have assured students that they will actively patrol the area and are also deployed outside the institute some miscreants have still been managing to act inappropriately.

“Sometimes, boys follow us in their cars in the sector, especially near the Sector 36-37 roundabout. While it is true that the police have placed barricades outside the college gate, boys try to talk to us or pass comments when we walk towards our PG accommodations,” said a student.

Normally, three to four police officials, including women, are stationed outside the campus gate. They keep a watch on all the cars passing-by. “We do not let anyone roam around here. If we see any boys doing the rounds in the area, we stop them and take appropriate action,” said a policeman. However, the students claim that a few people have found a way to dodge the police — while coming from the market-side, they take a left turn inside the residential area and come out near the Verka booth.

Talking to The Tribune, SHO of Sector 36 police station Inspector JP Singh said, “Any student facing such issues can tell her teacher or any other college official about the vehicle’s number or other identification. They will inform us and we shall take appropriate action against the accused persons.”

The SHO also said that apart from police personnel deployed outside the college gate, around two-three personnel patrol the area in civil clothes. “A permanent team has been deployed around the college now,” the inspector said.

College principal Nisha Bhargava said safety of the students was a matter of utmost concern for them. “We have been coordinating with the police. Whenever we are informed by students of any misbehaviour, we make sure that we inform the police so that they take action against anti-social elements,” the principal said.

“This nuisance needs to end. The police has to place barricades in the streets, at times, which causes inconvenience to visitors and residents here,” said a resident living near the college.