Female students in the city express their fears and concerns

A lot of female students in Bengaluru, BM talked about experiencing harassment and aggressive behavior of men around college and university campuses. These students, including those living around colleges in rented houses and paying guesthouses (PGs) etc., have expressed concerns about not feeling safe and about the potential risks of being out of the house or PGs after a certain time .

A recent incident in Vasanth Nagar highlights a worrying pattern of individuals approaching female students under the guise of needing help, often resulting in physical abuse or verbal harassment if they refuse to help.

In such a case, a member of the social responsibility cell of a leading university in the area said she was physically attacked by a group posing as a robbery victim, who then fled when she screamed for help. Police later discovered that this group had collected around Rs 50,000 from other unsuspecting students.

Similar incidents have been reported in the area, especially around the university building. Female students in particular are often targeted by men who exhibit inappropriate and aggressive behavior, from unwanted advances to outright assault. Police investigations have revealed that these groups operate in specific areas near colleges and prey on young students by making up sob stories to gain sympathy or manipulate them.

Plea for more safety

To address these issues, students have called for greater awareness and proactive involvement of local law enforcement, including regular patrols and the implementation of stricter security measures. This comes amid growing concerns that male students in the new co-ed environment may need additional guidance in creating a respectful and safe space for their peers.

“As our university has become a co-educational institution, there is a growing need to sensitize male students to these issues. While the police are actively tackling the situation, stricter measures and increased patrolling in the Vasanth Nagar area would help ensure the safety of all students,” said a student representative of a prominent college in the area.

Many face harassment and discrimination
Moreover, cases of harassment have also been noticed among other students in Bengaluru, as evidenced by reports involving students from Northeast India. For example, the student from another prominent university in Koramangala faced threats and abuse from a car driver, while another student from Arunachal Pradesh was told she did not belong here when she conducted an election poll near Vasanth Nagar. These incidents point to a larger trend of harassment and discrimination faced by students from diverse backgrounds in Bengaluru.