“DIG Operations Faisal Kamran says police are searching for a girl in light of the statements given by students, but so far no clue has been found.“
A first-year student of the Punjab Group of Colleges was allegedly raped by a security guard on the premises of the campus on October 11. According to students, a lecturer inquired about the absence of a student, upon which her friends contacted the parents of the victim, who informed them that their daughter was allegedly raped by a security guard of the college.
The college students claimed that a college bus driver tricked the girl to come in the basement of the college by saying her fees was pending. They alleged she was raped by the security guard there.
The students claimed that when the condition of the victim deteriorated, she was taken out of the premises of the college while covering in a ‘duppata.’
The students started sharing the alleged raped incident on social media, after which protest demonstrations were held outside all campuses of the Punjab Group of Colleges demanding the filing of an FIR against the security guard and bringing him to justice.
While talking to journalists, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said that he has told the management of the college that students raised voices for her sisters, and if the college tried to cancel the registration of any student, he would take strict action against it as a provincial education minister.
He further said that, as per his knowledge, an incident of raped of a student happened on the Punjab College Gulberg campus.
The minister said that registration of Punjab College has been suspended. “These are all educated youth, and they raised voices for their sisters, and I am also with them,” he added.
He said that students claimed that the principal of the college has deleted the CCTV footage. The minister met the protesting students and assured them that he was with them.
The students who were protesting outside the Punjab College Gulberg campus showed their dresses stained with blood marks, saying they were beaten by the security guards and police personnel on the orders of the principal and vice principal.
The students claimed that police personnel entered the college premises and beat them with rifles. On the other hand, guards of the Punjab College Muslim Town campus torture one of the protesting students, who is said to be in serious condition.
Some of the protesting students also claimed that the alleged rape victim has died, and the police baton charged them at the behest of Mian Amir Mehmood and college administration.
The students claimed that they were threatened not to stage a demonstration; otherwise, their education career will be ruined.
While talking to Naya Daur TV, students expressed concern that they might be expelled from college and an FIR might be filed against them because police and college administration have captured their pictures.
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According to Rescue 1122, at least 27 students sustained injuries during protests outside Punjab College campus.
The students also regretted that no mainstream media is giving coverage to them, and they are raising the incident through social media on their own.
While addressing a press conference, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said police swiftly took action after the news of alleged rape went viral on social media. He said that police also arrested a college security guard from Sargodha for being absent for a few days.
He further said that police have checked records of all hospitals, but no such case was found. He said that CCTV footage has also been checked, but no such incident was found there as well.
The police are looking for the girl in light of the statements given by students, but so far no clue has been found.
He declared the incident of alleged raped a rumor and warned that action can be taken against perpetrators as per the Cyber Crime Act.
While responding to a question, the DIG said, “How can the state become a complainant in a rape case as we don’t have any victims?” He said police will instantly file the case once the girl is identified.
In a formal conversation with a journalist, DIG Faisal said that this case seems to be like the British riots, where fake news on social media triggered unrest.
It is pertinent to mention here that Naya Daur TV asked DIG Faisal and his spokesperson that a suspected girl who allegedly fell from stairs and her father was invited to Police Lines, where he was supposed to address the media persons, but her father has not appeared before the media. But no response has been received till filing of this report.
Meanwhile, Punjab College administration has stated that no such incident has occurred on campus, terming the social media posts as fake news.
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However, the government has suspended the registration of the Punjab College for Women Gulberg campus till further orders.
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FAQ’s
1. What happened at Punjab College’s Gulberg Campus?
Students have reported that a first-year student was allegedly raped by a security guard at Punjab College’s Gulberg Campus. This incident has caused concern and anger among both the students and the public.
2. Is there any official statement from Punjab College regarding the incident?
So far, the college administration has not officially confirmed or denied the incident. An official statement might be issued as the investigation continues.
3. Who reported this incident?
The incident was reported by students who claimed the assault happened on campus. However, these claims have not yet been verified by authorities or the college administration.
4. What actions are being taken to investigate the allegations?
The authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to find out the facts. As of now, the details of the investigation are not fully available.
5. Has the accused security guard been identified or detained?
There is no public information yet about whether the security guard has been identified or arrested. If the claims are proven, the authorities are likely to take action.
6. What support is available for the victim?
If the allegations are true, the victim should receive medical and psychological support. Colleges usually provide counseling and legal assistance to victims of such incidents.
7. How are students and the community reacting to the incident?
Students are upset and worried about their safety. Many are calling for improved security measures on campus, especially regarding the role of security personnel.
8. What should students do if they feel unsafe on campus?
Students should report any suspicious behavior to the administration or campus security immediately. It’s also recommended to stay in groups and be aware of their surroundings.
9. How can such incidents be prevented in the future?
Colleges should perform thorough background checks on employees, especially security staff. Improving security, adding surveillance, and providing self-defense training can also help prevent such incidents.
10. What legal action can be taken if the allegations are confirmed?
If the allegations are confirmed, the victim has the right to take legal action. The accused could face criminal charges, including imprisonment, under the laws related to sexual assault and rape.