The memory of molestation of some women students of the Delhi University at the hands of some anti-social elements who had come to Kamala Nagar center to appear in a public examination for recruitment in police is till fresh in north campus students’ memory.

Come admission time and these elements descend upon the north campus of the DU to indulge in nefarious activities under the pretext of buying prospectuses and application forms for admission to the University.

In order to forestall the repetition of such occurrences in future, the representatives of the Delhi University Students Union had approached the Delhi police to install CCTV cameras at the campus to monitor the unruly elements during the admission time.

The student representatives met the deputy commissioner of police north in November last year with their demand. They were assured that these cameras would be installed within two months. But nothing happened even after a long wait.

The students finally decided to approach Y.S Dadwal, the Delhi Police Commissioner. They have been assured that the demanded cameras would be set up by June. This is the time when the admission process runs full steam and the agents provocateurs try to take the advantage of the large crowds of women students.

The students’ representatives have been assured that the police will set up 47 cameras at strategic points all over the north campus of the university. The cameras will also be installed at certain stretches which are considered insecure for students.

Some of these cameras would be installed outside all the women colleges and hostels, vice-chancellor’s office, Patel Chest, Kamla Nagar and Kranti Chowk.

These cameras would also come up at certain colonies where the women students take paying guest residence and also close to private hostels for women students. The colonies include Mukherjee Nagar, Hudson Lane, Outram Lines and Kishore Colony.
The champions of personal liberties, however, oppose this step on the ground that these cameras would interfere with the privacy of the students. They prefer beat patrolling over the CCTV cameras. But the big question is how do you protect the privacy of the students from the prying eyes of the beat constables?