Students of Punjab Group of Colleges protested in large numbers outside the campus following the alleged rape case of a student by a security guard.
Students protested against the management for allegedly protecting the security guard. A first-year student was allegedly raped by a security guard on the premises of the college on October 11th, 2024. According to students, a lecturer inquired about the absence of a student, upon which her friends contacted the parents of the victim, who informed them that a security guard of the college allegedly raped their daughter.
Multiple videos of students protesting outside the college went viral on social media. Several students were even assaulted as Police tried to stop them. Many of the protesting female students were taken to the hospital for treatment.
One of the students claimed that the van driver called the girl in the basement regarding the pending fees and there the security guard assaulted her.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Government and Punjab Police are denying the incident, claiming it is a rumor. However, the Education Minister of Punjab Rana Sikandar Hayat claims that according to his understanding, a sexual assault of the student happened. He also accused the college of deleting the CCTV footage.
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Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari shared the video released by Punjab Police showing ASP Shehrbano Naqvi and the alleged father and uncle of the girl. As per the video statement, no such thing happened with the girl. Sheherbano Naqvi said that the protest erupted following misinformation that caused a law and order situation in Lahore. A man said to be her uncle claimed that she sustained injury after she fell from stairs in the home.
Sharing the video, Azma Bokhari said: “We didn’t want to do this. Listen to the oppressed father of an innocent girl and do not believe the reports of the political vultures who created riots in Punjab. Yet the Chief Minister of Punjab has assigned the duty of Bahadur SP Shehrbanu to someone. If there is any other corroborated information, please let me know, she will go with them herself, and no one will be spared, still, the guard is in police custody and the college has been sealed, the honor of one’s daughter and the benefit of children’s feelings.”
The incoherence and changing statements of the Punjab Police are raising questions on their intentions and activities.