NEW DELHI: Tempers ran high at Rajender Nagar for the second consecutive day on Monday as hundreds of students continued their sit-in protests demanding enforcement of rules, justice and compensation for the three students who died in a flooded basement of a coaching centre on Saturday. There was drama too, with municipal officials clearing the area to carry out demolitions and lieutenant governor V K Saxena arriving to talk to the protesters.
The students, who refused to move from outside Rau’s IAS Study Circle building, demanded compensation for the families of the deceased. While worrying that students’ wings of political parties could hijack the protest, the students insisted that even the newer buildings in the locality, instead of taking measures to make conditions for students safer, were constructing classrooms and libraries in the basements.
A support protest began also in north Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar. A video showed the students clapping and chanting slogans demanding justice for the Rajender Nagar victims. Senior police officers are at the spot.
MCD carried out a drive to clear the footpaths of encroachments blocking the drains and increasing the chances of waterlogging. It also sealed some coaching institutes. These acts did not pacify the protesters. “The smaller coaching institutes are being targeted and their basements being sealed, while the big players who conduct classes in the basement are left untouched,” claimed Nitesh Kumar, 27.
The students also alleged a cover-up at several institutes. “Most of the libraries using basements have removed signboards though the libraries are still functioning,” alleged Prabhat Pandit, 25. “The basements don’t have fire safety arrangements or emergency exits.”
Many protesters expressed outrage at police’s manhandling of students on Sunday. Himanshu Thakur, 22, said, "When we raised our demands in front of the cops, they began detaining us. I received a cut under my eye and on my left arm. Both police and the Rapid Action Force were acting with brutality against the protestors.”
Protester Ankit Singh said, “At the protest site, security personnel initially checked our ID cards before letting us in, but are now allowing everyone to go to the protest site. Two earthmovers have also reached the spot." A police officer confirmed. "We have deployed paramilitary personnel and policemen there to maintain law and order."
We also published the following articles recently
3 students drown in flooded basement at Delhi IAS coaching centre
Three students at Rau's IAS coaching centre in Delhi's Old Rajender Nagar drowned after rainwater flooded the basement library. Despite rescue efforts by NDRF and fire brigade, they were trapped. Criticism has been aimed at poor safety measures and inadequate drainage in the area, with calls for accountability from local authorities.
Delhi coaching centre tragedy: 'Basement was misused as library, safety norms were violated'
The owner of Raus IAS Study Circle, Abhishek Gupta, was present at the building where three students drowned in a flooded basement. He admitted there was no water drainage system, and this led to severe waterlogging. Gupta has been booked under negligence and sent to judicial custody. The basement was illegally used for a library without proper clearance documents.
Rajender Nagar tragedy: MCD seals 13 coaching institutes across Delhi
The tragic incident at Old Rajender Nagar highlighted the misuse of basements in Delhi. The Raus IAS Study Circle's basement, meant for storage and parking, was used as a library in violation of municipal rules. Many similar illegal activities occur in Delhi basements, prompting authorities to enforce strict measures and seal non-compliant spaces.
Start a Conversation
Post comment