Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) in New Delhi is set to restart regular offline classes on Thursday after a brief period of disruption. Academic instruction had been temporarily shifted to the online mode following the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl in the adjoining Astha Kunj Park near the Kalkaji temple, coupled with a police gunfight that broke out directly behind the institutional boundaries. With critical steps taken to restore normalcy, the college administration has confirmed that physical attendance inside lecture halls will restart.
Student Welfare and Institutional Safety Declared Top Priority
Principal Kanika K. Ahuja of Lady Shri Ram College for Women announced the resumption of physical coursework, stating that student welfare and protection remain paramount for the administration. In her official communication, she noted that the faculty members alongside the professional college counselor have been requested to remain accessible at all times to extend every possible support to learners. Following the traumatic crime in the vicinity, substantial apprehension had spread across the student body and faculty regarding the safety of transit corridors around the campus. The administrative leadership urged students to approach designated faculty mentors and counselors without hesitation if they experience any distress or require guidance.
The Sequence of Events That Triggered the Campus Lockdown
The decision to abruptly suspend on-site learning came into effect on Tuesday afternoon under intense security circumstances. While tracing those involved in the Astha Kunj Park assault, police personnel intercepted one of the prime suspects near the rear gate of the college property. A swift armed encounter occurred merely 50 meters away from the gate, sending shockwaves throughout the classrooms and staff quarters. The immediate panic caused by gunshots outside the premises prompted the leadership to suspend in-person operations, quickly moving all academic lectures to online platforms to shield pupils from surrounding hazards. The crime in Astha Kunj Park had originally been reported on Monday evening.
Impersonation of Police Officers Preceded the Assault
According to investigative findings released by Delhi Police, the teenage survivor had visited the Kalkaji temple with a male companion prior to walking into the neighboring public park. Inside the park grounds, a group of three individuals intercepted the pair while fraudulently posing as police officers. Operating under this disguise, the perpetrators forcibly separated the young girl from her acquaintance, dragging her into an isolated sector of the green expanse. The suspects then subjected the girl to sexual abuse while issuing explicit intimidation against both individuals. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that all three suspects linked to the offence have been apprehended.
Heightened Vigilance and Student Reactions on Ground
The traumatic episode has altered daily routines across the college community, with many expressing deep reservations regarding safety in nearby transit hubs and pedestrian walkways. In the immediate aftermath of the incident and the rear-gate encounter, several students contemplated returning to their hometowns temporarily to cope with the anxiety. Others residing in the vicinity have consciously stopped commuting unaccompanied, deciding instead to travel strictly in groups when walking to and from the institution.
