The march began at the National Park beside the college’s back gate and proceeded to SD Office Road near Moolchand, pausing for a brief sit‑in at the spot where one of the three accused, Asif, was shot in the leg during a police exchange of fire that occurred just 50 metres from the gate.
The demonstration follows a high‑profile crime in which a 17‑year‑old girl was gang‑raped in Astha Kunj Park, after which police engaged the suspects in a gun‑battle that left one accused wounded. In response, the college suspended regular classes on Tuesday afternoon and shifted to online instruction for Wednesday.
Students said the march was intended to reclaim the streets they use daily and to send a clear message that the incident would not dictate where or when women could move. “We want freedom from rape culture, moral policing and patriarchy,” one participant said during the rally.
A heavy police presence accompanied the procession, with officers directing traffic and escorting the crowd through the busy Nehru Place and Kailash Colony corridors during the evening rush hour.
Several students recounted personal experiences of harassment in the area, describing men engaging in obscene behaviour on roads and near metro stations. A second‑year journalism student, Aakriti Yati, said she felt unsafe even with police barricades and noted blood splashes on the road after the shoot‑out.
The march also highlighted broader safety concerns. Participants demanded a formal mechanism for timely safety advisories, sensitisation training for security guards, and an end to insensitive remarks by some faculty members.
Senior Delhi Police officials, including Joint Commissioner Vijay Kumar, visited the campus on Wednesday and assured the college of increased police patrols, foot and scooter units, and dedicated women police teams around LSR, Maurice Nagar and Delhi University’s North Campus. Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar noted that CCTV cameras at Gate 7 of Astha Kunj Park were non‑functional, but footage from other cameras helped identify the accused.
The incident has left Astha Kunj Park unusually quiet, with fewer students in the vicinity on Wednesday. While auto‑rickshaws continued to line the Nehru Place road, drivers reported a noticeable drop in student commuters.