The protesting students of the Delhi University's women's hostels alleged that the hostel authorities have sent pictures of the protestors to the university asking them not to grant them admission to the hostel in the next session. They also accused the hostel authorities of not taking proper measures that the girls are safe during the Coronavirus outbreak in the capital and the rest of India. The hostel authorities have not reacted to the allegation yet.
The students said that the pictures were taken without their knowledge and sent to the higher authorities. "It is a breach of privacy along with a threat to our right to dissent. This is the kind of fear-mongering due to which women residents are scared to question in DU hostels," said Amisha Nanda, one of the protestors. They also presented a recording which is said to be of a local cybercafe owner who says that a teacher came in to send photos clicked on a DSLR to the authorities. We cannot confirm the authenticity of the recording.
The students also said that the hostel administration is not taking enough precautions against the Coronavirus pandemic that has already claimed a life in the capital and one in Karnataka. "During this wave of a pandemic such as Corona, the administration pays no heed to the protestors who are falling sick. They are not signing any bills for providing basic hygiene products in the hostel on the grounds that their tenure has not been renewed and has ended and they are no more our warden or provost. The residents question their capacity to occupy staff quarter/ the residence which they got by the virtue of being a warden or Provost," said Shreya Nikose, another protestor. "Clearly, it's a ploy to harass the protestors and during all this, they are blatantly ignoring the situation of protestors who have been sleeping outside near the gate for 17 days and are eventually falling sick," added Shreya.
There no street lights in and around the hostel complex said the girls. "And the same people talk about women safety. Women protestors stay at the gate day and night and irrespective of everything, even at night there are no street lights," said Amisha.
The students have been protesting for the past 17 days but the administration has provided them with no relief. Calls to the administration remain unanswered. This copy will be updated as soon as they revert.
