A protest broke out at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Monday as students demanded better security on campus.
The protest came a day after the Gachibowli Police arrested four minors, who allegedly attempted to rape a 19-year-old girl student belonging to the university.
The Gachibowli Police booked the four juveniles under Sections 375(d) (rape), 307 (attempt to murder) and 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in robbery) of the Indian Penal Code.
"UoH, which prevents the media, parents, academicians and social activists to enter the University, could not prevent the entry of culprits who assaulted students. It is a shame," a press release issued by the Students' Union said.
The students said that there was a need to strengthen boundary walls, as apart from the three existing entrances, several other entry points had been identified where there was no security to stop unauthorised people from entering the campus.
"Multiple instances of assault on the major roads of the campus which students regularly use to access library, hostel etc. have been reported. These areas are not properly lit and we insist that all the street lights on campus be made functional. Proper lighting will help in reducing the problem to a certain extent and might help the students feel safer while moving in the campus," the statement by the students said.
They also said that students feel reluctant to contact security even though their numbers have been posted across the university, because of a lack of sensitivity and a gender imbalance among security personnel while dealing with students.
"Incidents such as this, point out to the lapse of the institutional mechanism to make the campus gender-sensitive. Proper sensitisation about gender issues must be given to the students, faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure a campus, where female students can live without the fear of being intimidated or assaulted," the students added.