Students from several Delhi University colleges have intensified protests over women’s safety following the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl near Kalkaji’s Aastha Kunj Park. Demonstrators are demanding greater government accountability, stronger action against sexual violence and the freedom to move safely in public spaces.
New Delhi, Sept 2026 : Students from several colleges of Delhi University have intensified protests over rising concerns surrounding crimes against women in the national capital, taking to the streets with posters, placards and slogans demanding greater accountability and stronger measures to ensure women’s safety.
The protests have brought together students from colleges including Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women, Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College, Kamala Nehru College and Gargi College. Demonstrators have used a combination of direct demands, satire, humour and wordplay to highlight their concerns over women’s safety and restrictions on their freedom of movement.
The protests gained momentum following the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl near Kalkaji’s Aastha Kunj Park earlier this month. The incident has renewed anger among students and intensified concerns over whether women can move freely across Delhi without fear of sexual violence.
Several placards displayed during the demonstrations have used sharp and sarcastic messaging. One slogan that attracted attention read, “1 kachori, 2 samosa, in mardon ka kya bharosa”. Other placards carried messages such as “My favourite season will be the fall of patriarchy” and “Abort Patriarchy”.
Students said the protests were not merely about a single incident but reflected wider concerns about women’s safety and their right to access public spaces without restrictions.
“We want the government to take responsibility for all the rape cases. Why can’t we go outside? Being able to walk safely outside is our right, and we are here to demand it,” a student said.
Another protester questioned why women should be expected to remain indoors because of the threat of sexual violence.
“We are here out on the streets for our safety. If girls were safe here, a gang rape would not have happened in Kalkaji. Till when will we stay indoors? Why should we be confined to our homes?” the protester said.
Students also called for stronger action against those accused of sexual violence and said they wanted concrete measures to improve women’s security.
“The government has not done anything concrete for the safety of women. We want to be able to walk freely. We want strict action against the rapists,” another student said.
What began as separate demonstrations at individual women’s colleges has gradually developed into a wider student mobilisation across Delhi University.
Hundreds of students gathered at the Faculty of Arts on September 28, while thousands subsequently marched through North Campus. The demonstrations have emerged as a significant student-led campaign focused on women’s safety, accountability and the right of women to move freely and safely in Delhi.
The students have said their continued mobilisation will remain focused on demanding greater responsibility from authorities and meaningful measures to address sexual violence against women.
