Classes were suspended and shifted online after a police encounter involving an accused in the Astha Kunj Park case took place barely 50 metres from Lady Shri Ram College’s back gate

Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) has suspended offline classes and shifted some academic sessions online after a police encounter involving an accused in the Astha Kunj Park gang-rape case took place close to the college campus, intensifying concerns over the safety of students, faculty and staff in the area.

The encounter took place near DM Office Road in Amar Colony, around 50 metres from the college’s back gate. According to police, one of the accused, identified as Asif, allegedly opened fire when a police team attempted to apprehend him. Police said three rounds were fired by the accused, with one bullet hitting a head constable’s bulletproof jacket. The police team subsequently fired two rounds in self-defence, one of which struck Asif in the right leg.

The development prompted LSR to suspend classes from noon on Tuesday, September 22, and continue precautionary measures on Wednesday. Some classes were moved online, while guest faculty were also asked to conduct sessions remotely.

Why LSR suspended classes

The college administration advised students, teachers and staff members not to gather near the back gate and said it was coordinating with Delhi Police over security arrangements along the campus perimeter.

The decision came as concerns grew among students living in the neighbourhood surrounding Astha Kunj Park. The LSR Students’ Union said the proximity of the encounter had left many students shaken and concerned about their safety.

The union also held an emergency online meeting to allow students to discuss the incident and raise concerns regarding security around the college. It said it planned to approach the Principal’s office with demands for stronger security measures around the campus.

LSR Principal Kanika K Ahuja said the institution had suspended classes in view of the safety and well-being of students and that faculty mentors and the college counsellor would remain available to students requiring support.

What happened at Astha Kunj Park

According to Delhi Police, the alleged sexual assault took place on Monday, September 21, after a 17-year-old girl visited Kalkaji Mandir with a male friend and subsequently went to Astha Kunj Park.

Police said three men approached the two teenagers while allegedly posing as police personnel. They allegedly threatened the pair by claiming that they were minors and could face police action.

The men allegedly separated the girl from her friend and took her to a secluded portion of the park, where the girl was allegedly sexually assaulted.

The survivor subsequently underwent a medical examination at AIIMS and an FIR was registered at Amar Colony police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The allegations are being investigated by the police and the accused are entitled to due process under law.

Three accused arrested

Police identified the accused as Asif, Hemant and Mukesh. Asif was arrested following the encounter in Amar Colony, while the other two accused were also taken into custody during the investigation.

According to police, investigators used CCTV footage, technical inputs and descriptions provided during the initial investigation to trace the suspects.

Police have also been examining the sequence of events inside and around the park, the movements of the accused and other available evidence as part of the investigation.

The father of Hemant and Mukesh has disputed the allegations against his sons and claimed that they were being framed. The allegations made by the family will form part of the broader legal and investigative process.

Security concerns extend beyond the college boundary

The incident has also brought renewed attention to security conditions at Astha Kunj Park and other public spaces surrounding educational institutions.

Astha Kunj is a large DDA-managed park with multiple access points. Reports have highlighted concerns about lighting, broken sections of the boundary and the availability and functioning of surveillance infrastructure in some areas.

For students living in paying guest accommodation and other residential facilities near the park, the issue extends beyond the college gates. The safety of routes between accommodation, public transport points, parks and educational institutions can become an important consideration, particularly after dark.

The incident has therefore prompted questions about perimeter security, street lighting, CCTV coverage, police patrolling and the monitoring of access points around the wider neighbourhood.

Students and parents seek greater reassurance

The proximity of the police encounter to the college has added another layer of concern for students and their families. Some students reportedly said their parents had asked them to return home, while others were considering temporarily leaving Delhi.

For educational institutions, such incidents can have an impact beyond the immediate suspension of classes. Maintaining a secure campus environment requires coordination between college authorities, local police, security personnel, municipal agencies and residents.

The LSR administration’s decision to move classes online represents a precautionary response while security concerns are being assessed.

Focus now on investigation and campus security

The immediate priority remains the investigation into the alleged assault, the prosecution of the accused through due legal process and support for the survivor.

At the same time, the incident has placed renewed focus on preventive security measures around Astha Kunj Park and the surrounding educational and residential areas.

Measures such as functioning CCTV cameras, adequate lighting, guarded entry points, regular police patrolling, emergency response systems and clear communication channels between students and authorities can become important components of a broader safety framework.

The incident has also highlighted how security risks in public spaces can directly affect nearby educational institutions even when an incident does not occur inside the campus itself.

A wider conversation on public-space safety

The developments around LSR have shifted attention from the immediate police operation to the larger question of how public spaces near colleges and residential communities are secured.

For students, particularly those living independently away from their families, confidence in the safety of their surroundings is closely linked to access to reliable emergency assistance and visible security infrastructure.

As the investigation progresses, the response of authorities and the college administration will remain closely watched by students, parents and the wider community.

The case also underlines the importance of ensuring that public parks, access roads and areas surrounding educational institutions receive the same attention to safety infrastructure as the campuses themselves.