When Campus Becomes a Crucible of Fear: The DU Acid Attack and a Deep Cry for Safety

A chill, it must be said, ran through the very veins of Delhi University's North Campus recently. It wasn't just a news item; no, it was a visceral shock. A 19-year-old student, barely a first-year, was targeted in a horrifying acid attack. And this wasn't some isolated, shadowy alleyway incident; this unfolded right outside the Arts Faculty, dangerously close to the Vishwavidyalaya metro station – a place, you'd assume, of bustling life and, well, some measure of safety.

Think about it for a moment: a young woman, simply navigating her university life, is suddenly confronted with such raw, unadulterated violence. It's a stark, deeply unsettling reminder that even within the supposed sanctuaries of education, our sense of security can be brutally shattered. The attack, reportedly carried out by two individuals, one known to the victim, speaks volumes about a pervasive vulnerability that frankly, we should no longer tolerate.

And so, quite naturally, the outrage simmered and then boiled over. The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) — their leaders, like President Akshit Dahiya and Secretary Ashish Lamba, among others — wasted absolutely no time. They condemned the act, yes, but more importantly, they channeled that collective fury into tangible action. Protests erupted, not in distant whispers, but right there at the Maurice Nagar police station, a visible and vocal demand for justice and, crucially, for change.

Their demands, honestly, are simple, yet profoundly necessary: robust security for women. We’re talking about an immediate overhaul, you could say, of the existing system. More CCTV cameras, please; panic buttons strategically placed; and a much, much stronger police presence. Especially at gates, especially at those spots where students, particularly women, might feel vulnerable. Because, in truth, the current setup? It's clearly falling short. The very fact that such an incident could occur in what is supposed to be a high-security zone speaks volumes, doesn't it?

But this isn't an isolated tremor; it feels more like an earthquake, exposing deeper cracks. It calls to mind, perhaps, another harrowing incident just a year ago, when another female student faced harassment. It makes you wonder: are we really learning? Are we truly prioritizing the safety of our students, particularly our women? This latest horror isn't just about one victim, heartbreaking as her story is; it's a wake-up call for the entire institution, a fervent plea for an environment where every student can learn, thrive, and simply exist without fear. And really, isn't that the very least we can offer?