Gargi College 'molestation' case: Principal forms panel

NEW DELHI: Amid growing outrage over the alleged sexual harassment by a group of men on February 6 inside the campus during the college’s annual fest, the principal of Gargi College on Monday set up a high-level fact-finding committee to meet with the complainants, eyewitnesses.
"We've set up a high-level fact-finding committee to meet with the complainants, eyewitnesses and any other person having relevant information," principal Dr Promila Kumar told news agency ANI.
"The committee will prepare a report of the complaints for submission to the police in a time-bound manner if complainants so desire. The students also have the option of approaching the ICC of Gargi College for confidential inquiry," the principal said.
Kumar highlighted that the institution stands with the students whose safety and security is the college's first priority.
The college authorities, earlier today, lodged a case under Sections 452, 354, 509 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Hauz Khas police station.
After the complaint was registered, DCP South Atul Thakur said that a police inspector of Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell has been designated as investigation officer in the case while the additional DCP (South), Geetanjali Khandelwal, will oversee the investigation.
Police are scanning the footage of CCTV cameras to collect evidence and speaking to students to ascertain facts, the officer said.
The students of Gargi College called for a protest march on Monday, blaming the administration over the alleged sexual assaults by men who had broken into their campus on the third day of the college fest, 'Reverie', on February 6. They also alleged that the principal refused to pay heed to their complaints and asked: "Why so many people were allowed inside the campus without valid passes". However, principal Promila Kumar said she didn’t get any such complaint and the fest was peaceful.
(With inputs from agencies)