Nirma University Protest: Students Hold Black Day Over Women’s Safety Concerns
AHMEDABAD: Students at Nirma University held a Black Day protest on Thursday, October 1, over concerns about the safety of women living in the university’s girls’ hostels. The demonstration followed a video allegedly showing an unidentified man engaging in inappropriate behaviour near the H-4 girls’ hostel, prompting students to question the university administration’s response.
The Nirma University protest took place on campus as students dressed in black and staged a sit-in near the Law Building. Students demanded action against the person shown in the video, stronger security arrangements and greater accountability from the university.
What Triggered The Nirma University Protest
The controversy began after a video recorded by students appeared on social media. According to The Indian Express, the footage was reportedly recorded from the H-4 girls’ hostel and appeared to show a worker at the nearby under-construction H-5 building behaving inappropriately while facing female students.
Students said they reported the incident to female security personnel. They alleged that, instead of taking action against the person involved, some security staff advised female students not to wear shorts within the hostel premises.
Students also said they raised the matter with the university administration but believed the response was inadequate. One student alleged that green netting was later placed around the hostel area rather than addressing the conduct shown in the video.
The allegations have not been treated as established facts against the unidentified person. Police are investigating the complaint, and the circumstances surrounding the footage remain subject to verification.
Police Complaint Filed Over The Incident
An FIR was filed at Sola police station following a complaint by Nirma University Chief Security Officer Jairam Karsan Desai. Police said an unidentified person had been booked under Sections 110 and 111 of the Gujarat Police Act, and efforts were underway to establish the person’s identity.
The police investigation is expected to include examination of available evidence and efforts to identify the person seen in the footage.
The Black Day protest was therefore focused on both the alleged incident and students’ wider concerns about security around the H-4 and H-5 hostel buildings.
Students Demand Stronger Hostel Security
Students participating in the Nirma University protest demanded that the administration investigate the incident and strengthen security arrangements around the girls’ hostels.
The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) also called for an impartial investigation and a review of security arrangements at H-4 and H-5. Students have sought greater transparency about the steps being taken by the university following the complaint.
The university’s response is now under scrutiny as the police inquiry continues. A university official responsible for administration could not immediately be reached for comment in the reporting cited above.
The Gujarat student news story has also drawn attention because students say the issue is about more than one alleged incident. Their demands centre on hostel security, accountability and how complaints involving women students are handled.
Earlier Campus Incident Adds To Concerns
The latest Nirma University protest comes days after another incident on campus involving a faculty member and a student. Students had earlier raised concerns after a video allegedly showed a professor grabbing a student by the collar during an event.
The university subsequently formed a committee to examine that incident.
With the police now investigating the hostel-related complaint, students are pressing the administration for clearer action and stronger safeguards for those living on campus.
