Kalkaji Temple Gang Rape: LSR Moves Classes Online After Police Encounter Near Campus
NEW DELHI: Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) suspended physical classes and shifted teaching online after a police encounter involving an accused in the Kalkaji case took place close to the college’s back gate. The move came a day after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir by three men who allegedly posed as police personnel.
LSR Moves Classes Online After Encounter Near Gate
The Kalkaji temple gang rape was reported on Monday evening, September 21, after the teenager and a 17-year-old male friend visited Kalkaji Mandir and later entered Aastha Kunj Park. Police said three men allegedly approached the teenagers while claiming to be policemen, separated the girl from her friend and assaulted her in a secluded part of the park.
The investigation led police to one accused, identified as Asif. Police said he allegedly opened fire when officers attempted to intercept him near D.M. Office Road in Amar Colony on Tuesday. A bullet struck a head constable’s bulletproof jacket, while police fired back, hitting Asif in the leg.
According to The Tribune, the encounter occurred about 50 metres from LSR’s back gate, prompting the college to suspend physical classes from Tuesday afternoon and conduct classes online on Wednesday. The administration said student safety and well-being were its priority.
Three Accused Arrested In Delhi Case
Police said all three accused — Asif, Hemant and his younger brother Mukesh — were arrested within about 12 hours of the alleged assault. A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other relevant provisions of law.
The Kalkaji temple gang rape investigation is continuing, with police examining CCTV footage, forensic material and statements connected with the alleged assault. The Delhi Commission for Women has also taken suo motu cognisance and sought a report from police on the investigation and action taken.
The case has renewed attention on conditions around Aastha Kunj Park, including lighting, surveillance and security arrangements. Those concerns have also become directly relevant to Delhi student safety, given the park’s proximity to educational institutions and the police operation near LSR.
Students Raise Fresh Security Concerns
The shift to LSR online classes followed the encounter, but concerns among students extend beyond the temporary change in teaching mode. The LSR Students’ Union held an emergency online general body meeting on Tuesday night to discuss security concerns around the campus and nearby areas.
Students have raised questions about perimeter security, patrolling and surveillance around the college’s back gate and surrounding roads. The college has asked faculty mentors and counsellors to remain available for students who need support while physical classes remain suspended.
Delhi Case Puts Campus Safety Under Scrutiny
The latest incident comes days after an earlier Delhi teen rape-murder case in Swaroop Nagar, where police detained four suspects while continuing to examine CCTV and forensic evidence. The separate case has added to attention on crimes involving young victims in the capital.
For LSR, the immediate response remains precautionary. The decision to hold LSR online classes on Wednesday follows the reported encounter near the gate, while officials continue the criminal investigation into the alleged assault.
The Kalkaji temple gang rape case remains under investigation, and allegations against the accused will be tested through the legal process. For students, the episode has placed Delhi student safety at the centre of discussions over security around campuses and public spaces in southeast Delhi.
