JOIN USConcerns come out in the open
It’s been more than a fortnight since the alleged rape of a 21-year-old student of National Law School of India University (NLSIU) happened on Bangalore University
campus. The police have successfully cracked the case and the accused have been caught.
The students of NLSIU have finally decided to come out in the open and talk about the lack of safety around their campus.
They say in one voice that the poor security is a pressing concern for them.
The lack of regular police patrolling and the presence of a sizeable number of bars in the surrounding areas are what the students are concerned about.
About 100-plus students of NLSIU held a silent protest in the City recently, demanding intensifying patrolling around their campus by bifurcating the existing Jnanabharathi police station.
They also pointed out that the issue has been portrayed in an insensitive manner.
The students wore black T-shirts and had their faces covered with black plastic covers with only the eyes visible.
A lot of thought had gone into making the posters. The topics ranged from freedom of women, women and their sense of dressing and irresponsible coverage.
Some of the placards read thus — ‘Think she agrees, think again’, ‘In our society, sex is taboo but rape is common place’ and ‘Short skirts don’t cause rape.’
Some of the other issues that the students raised were the lack of streetlights around NLSIU.
They claim that even the few streetlights that are there are broken.
Sahana Manjesh, student coordinator, says, “Looks like the cops are ill-equipped to patrol such a large area. After the incident, we have restricted ourselves from venturing out after dark. We try to remain on campus as much as we can.”
Badri Narayan, vice-president of the Student Council, echoes Sahana’s concerns when he says, “Women should be able to move freely and fearlessly around the campus and more police patrolling is required in our area. Bangalore University is a deserted place and people fear to go that side.”
NLSIU has tightened its rules after the incident.Another student of NLSIU, who didn’t want to be named, informs, “The college gates were open till midnight but now, they are closed before 8 pm and the students are expected to be on campus by 7 pm.”
“If anyone has to step out of campus after the stipulated time, they will have to cite a convincing reason and take special permission from the warden,” he adds.
Reacting to the demands made by the students, additional commissioner of police (law and order) T Suneel Kumar states, “A proposal to bifurcate the Jnanabharathi police station is under discussion.
We have intensified police patrolling around the area. There’s a little bit of restructuring needed. We are working on it.”