Miranda House Diwali fest: Men climb walls, indulge in ‘cat-calling, groping, sexist sloganeering’

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against “unknown persons” after some students of Delhi University’s all-women Miranda House alleged that several men climbed the college walls and gates to witness an open Diwali fest on the campus, and indulged in “cat-calling, groping and sexiest sloganeering”.

The students of the prestigious all-women college shared multiple videos on social media in which some men are seen purportedly scaling the boundary wall, roaming around on the campus and raising slogans.

Also read: Sunder Nagri murder: How cops failed to see tell-tale signs

“Due to huge crowd gathering at a Diwali Mela organised in Miranda House College in North Campus on 14th Oct, gates were closed by college admin. Some students tried scaling the walls but were prevented. Program went peacefully. No formal complaint received so far,” DCP, North Delhi, tweeted on Sunday night (October 16).

Due to huge crowd gathering at a Diwali Mela organised in Miranda House Coll in North Campus on 14th Oct, gates were closed by coll admin. Some students tried scaling the walls but were prevented. Program went peacefully
No formal complaint recieved so far.#DelhiPoliceUpdates

— DCP North Delhi (@DcpNorthDelhi) October 16, 2022

Later, in another tweet, police said they had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and filed an FIR based on a tweet in which a video was shared of men allegedly climbing the walls of Miranda House.

“Suo moto, a case is being lodged on the basis of the tweet. Investigation will follow,” Delhi Police said.

Also read: Study from anywhere in India, anytime: Delhi school throws open classroom

A student of Miranda House shared the video on her Twitter account and wrote, “Men climbing over the walls to get into Miranda House during an open fest. What followed was horrible. Cat-calling, groping, sexist sloganeering and more. Men entering safe spaces to harass gender minorities is nothing new, but they out do themselves every time.”

Men climbing over the walls to get into Miranda House during an open fest. What followed was horrible. Cat-calling, groping, sexist sloganeering and more. Men entering safe spaces to harass gender minorities is nothing new, but they out do themselves every time. pic.twitter.com/UkMAuJZKVU

— Sobhana (@sobhana__) October 15, 2022

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the city police and Miranda House over the allegations.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal questioned the security arrangements made by the college during the event.

“Men are climbing walls to forcibly enter Diwali fest at Miranda House, one of the most popular colleges of Delhi. The women have made serious allegations of molestation and harassment. We are sending notices to Delhi Police and the college administration. How did this hooliganism happen? What were the security arrangements in place?” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

दिल्ली के सबसे विख्यात कॉलेज में से एक मिरांडा हाउस में चल रहे दिवाली मेले में लड़के दीवार फाँदकर ज़बरदस्ती घुस रहे हैं। लड़कियों ने छेड़छाड़ और शोषण के गंभीर आरोप लगाए हैं। हम दिल्ली पुलिस और कॉलेज प्रशासन को नोटिस भेज रहे हैं। कैसे ये गुंडागर्दी हुई? क्या सुरक्षा प्रबंध किए? pic.twitter.com/OEdn2bkI0y

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) October 17, 2022

(With agency inputs)