Stalk & slash: N-E girls rattled in safe city

KOLKATA: You would think Wednesday's attack on a student in the Jadavpur University corridors would spur a security shake-up on campus. Not so. Outsiders easily moved in and out, as earlier, and there was no check on vehicles.
Students were heard complaining about security on campus. The city's north-eastern Diaspora has been shaken by the attack. Shillong girl Garima Singh was slashed by a masked attacker in the electronics and telecommunications department, and barely escaped with her life.The attacker had got in on a bike and escaped unchallenged.
On Thursday, too, bikes, private cars and even taxis entered the campus without any security check. Most entry points were unmanned. Vehicles were found parked randomly in front of the administrative building, union rooms, electrical engineering department and the arts and science departments. Most belonged to outsiders.
"Though the authorities are trying to play down the incident, they should be more serious about of security on the campus," said Ushashi Roy, a third-year student of Metallurgy in the university. Her views were echoed by a few second-year students heading for the English department. "The university needs to put a check on the random entry of strangers here," said Ahana Mitra.
JU authorities parroted old lines, saying they were introducing a "few changes" in campus security. "We should not point to Wednesday's unfortunate incident as the reason for the security beef-up, but we have decided to maintain strict vigil at the five entry points. Restrictions will be imposed on visitors and vehicles entering the campus. We have adequate security guards for this," said registrar Pradip Ghosh.
That may not help students feeling vulnerable inside the university. Another section feeling insecure is the North-East Diaspora. They have always considered Kolkata the safest metro in the country.
"It was in Delhi and Mumbai where girls from the North-East were attacked frequently. The Kolkata incident has left us deeply disturbed," said Daphitor R Kharkongor of Shillong, who recently finished her BBA from St Xavier's.
"So far, the worst we have had to put up with is a bit of eve-teasing. Nothing more harmful. But the JU attack has scarred our minds. I hope such incidents do not recur. It is scary," said Linda, a hotel management student from Mizoram.
On Thursday, the Kolkata Meghalaya Students' Association (KMSA) met and tried to pacify students, particularly girls. "Though Wednesday's incident was an isolated one, we want to build a stronger network among students from the North-East and try to help if a girl complains of being stalked," said KMSA president Peilang Thongni.
To start off, the association advises girls to stay away from strangers. "If a girl feels she
is being harassed by someone, it is always good to confide in other students from the Northeast or a students' body. We can help out in many ways," said JU printing technology student Chinang Marak.
Some girls blame such incidents on the stereotype mindset of city people. "We understand that socio-cultural differences are the reason behind this attitude. Our society allows us to mix freely with the opposite sex and this is misinterpreted as us being available'," said Daphitor.
"Despite the JU incident, we still want to believe that Kolkata is safe for us," said fashion designing student Ribul M Syieng.