JMC Students Protest Against Balloon Incident

New Delhi: Condemning increasing incidents of balloons filled with urine being thrown at girls ahead of Holi celebrations on March 2, students of Jesus and Mary College (JMC) protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters here on Thursday.

They demanded stricter measures against hooligans and the perpetrators.

The girl students were joined by many Delhi University teachers in their protest, who decried the lack of supervision and deterrent measures to check such vulgar activities.

"We demand increased police patrolling during Holi and marshals in buses as were promised," Maya John, history teacher at JMC, told IANS.

"I think residential societies should also be directed to hold meetings to sensitise their members as balloon throwing is rampant in societies where Holi meets are organised," she said.

She also remarked on the campus Holi tradition in which male students of the campus take out a procession and surround girls' hostels "practically putting them under imprisonment".

Another student of college said that the protest was also for equality between men and women.

"When the girl was hit with urine-filled balloon, everybody in bus said 'this happens'. Even a woman said 'koi baat nahi beta' (No problem)... We need to change this mentality...," Yukti, a psychology student said.

A memorandum of demands was also submitted to the Joint Commissioner of Police, who, a teacher said, had agreed to come to the college and speak to the students.

The protest was triggered by an incident that happened in Sagarpur area when a girl travelling in a bus was hit with a balloon, filled with urine. Some reports said semen was also used, but this could not be verified.

This was the third such incident where girls were hit with balloons filled with what is alleged to be urine or other body fluid, in last two days.

The other two incidents have been reported to have happened in Amar Colony and Greater Kailash areas, with students of Lady Shri Ram College.

A complaint was filed in the Amar Colony incident. (IANS)