2024 Lahore PGC rape
| Date | 11 October 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Punjab College for Women, 43 & 43A, Ghalib Road, Block E1, Gulberg III, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Also known as | PGC Campus 10 rape |
| Type | Rape |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 |
| Arrests | 1 |
On 11 October 2024, a female HSSC-I student at Punjab College Gulberg campus 10 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, was allegedly raped in the basement of the college building.[1][2] The victim was transferred to a nearby hospital and was said to have been shifted to the ICU in a critical condition.[3] Massive protests erupted in the premises of the city, especially in the various campuses of PGC spread across Lahore.[4] On 14 October 2024, one of the two suspects, a security guard working for the college, was arrested by the Punjab Police from Sialkot, while the other suspect, a van driver, is still missing.[5][6] On the same day, the registration of the college was suspended on the orders of the provincial minister of Education Punjab Rana Sikandar Hayat.[7]
Incident
[edit]According to the college students, on the morning of 11 October 2024, Friday, the college van driver reportedly tricked and locked the victim in the basement after successfully calling her down to tell her about the pending fees.[8][9] The security guard, whose name is given as Aun, raped the victim until a teacher heard her screams and came to rescue her.[10][11] The guard escaped while the victim was rushed to a hospital in a deteriorating condition.[12]
Protests
[edit]Massive protests were observed in Lahore with severe clashes between the students and police.[13] 27 students were injured due to the baton charge with 1 student being shifted to the Services Hospital due to his critical condition. 4 police officers were injured during the counter-attack.[14] Many students and media personalities from all over the country started various online movements and hashtags for justice on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, X, etc.[15] Aurat March, a popular rights group, requested the Punjab Government to take actions against the "atrocity."[14]
Aftermath
[edit]The college administration completely denied the allegations and instead called them "false claims" and "fake propaganda" to tarnish the Institute's reputation.[16][17] Mian Amer Mahmood, the owner of Punjab Group of Colleges, has not released any public statement regarding the allegations. Students who were said to have raised their voices for justice were either suppressed or suspended from the institute.
Due to the public unrest and mass protests conducted by the students, the Police was forced to arrest the suspect from Sialkot while the co-conspirator, the van driver, is still on run.[18][19] On the orders of the provincial minister of Education Punjab Rana Sikandar Hayat, DIG Operations, Lahore, Faisal Kamran, was asked to seal the college and to suspend its registration. He also claimed that the principal of the institute deleted the CCTV footage of the incident and blamed the administration of mishandling the situation. He also encouraged the students and ensured them that he was with them throughout the protests.[1][20] The provincial minister of Information Punjab Azma Bukhari, said in a press conference that the CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz is being "updated of the situation for every moment."[21] An FIR on the suspect is yet to be lodged.
Refernces
[edit]- ^ a b "First-Year Student Raped By Security Guard Inside Punjab College Gulberg Campus, Claim Students". The Friday Times. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Protest breaks out over alleged rape of student in Lahore". Aaj English TV. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ Gabol, Imran (13 October 2024). "Suspect held for allegedly raping college student in Lahore: police". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Police crackdown on student protesters amid rape reports at college in Punjab". The Express Tribune. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Lahore: Security guard arrested for raping college student". ARY NEWS. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Security guard arrested in Punjab over alleged rape of college student". The Nation. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Lahore private college's registration cancelled after alleged rape of female student". Pakistan Observer. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Lahore college protest: 28 students injured in clashes with police over alleged rape". The Times of India. 14 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Violent demonstrations break out at Lahore's Punjab Group of Colleges in response to a girl's rape". Abb Takk News. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ Shehzad, Hiba (14 October 2024). "First Year Student Allegedly Raped At PGC In Critical Condition". FUCHSIA. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "10 injured by police while protesting over Lahore college student's rape". Pakistan Today. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Female rape case: Punjab govt cancels registration of college campus". DialoguePakistan. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Violent protest erupts at Lahore's Punjab College over alleged student's rape". Daily Ausaf. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ a b Gabol, Imran (14 October 2024). "27 injured as students clash with security, police in Lahore protest over alleged rape". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "'No rape at Campus 10'; Punjab College dismisses 'fake' reports". The Current Pk. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "27 injured as students clash with security team, police during protest against alleged rape in Lahore". Islamabad Post. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ "Protests erupt following alleged rape of student in Punjab College Lahore". TechJuice. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ PTI. "Lahore college protest: 28 students injured in clashes with police over alleged rape". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ Geo News (14 October 2024). Azma Bukhari Statement on student Protest in Lahore | Breaking News. Retrieved 14 October 2024 – via YouTube.