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This is an archive article published on September 22, 2022

IIT students seek more security

Days after canteen worker held for voyeurism, eatery shut

IIT Bombay, IIT Bombay campus, IIT Bombay students, Mumbai news, Mumbai city news, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Maharashtra government, India news, Indian Express News Service, Express News Service, Express News, Indian Express India NewsA student resident said, “As per the primary investigation, no video was found on the culprit's phone. However, we are insisting on a proper cyber investigation to know if a similar incident had taken place in the past."

DAYS AFTER a canteen worker at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, was arrested for allegedly trying to film a woman resident at the institute’s hostel while she was in the bathroom, students on Wednesday wrote to the hostel manager, seeking additional security across the campus.

Night canteen worker Pintu Garia (22) from a hostel inside the Powai campus was arrested on Monday on charges of voyeurism for allegedly climbing a duct pipe and attempting to record a video of a hostel resident while she was in the bathroom on Sunday. Following this, the night canteen has been shut till an all-women staff is appointed. The students also questioned the administration’s decision to close the canteen indefinitely.

“The shut canteen is extremely inconvenient for the residents, especially for research students working late in the lab and students having mid-semester exams. By shutting down students facilities for an indefinite period, the administration is now simply bringing up rules to restrict the ease in the daily lives of female students, rather than ensuring the safety of the residents,” stated the letter.

Resumption of the night canteen with additional security is only one of the demands made by the hostel residents. The others included maintenance of CCTV cameras, incorporating barb wires/fences in areas outside bathrooms of the wing from where the perpetrator gained access, audit of all women hostel as well as the formation of a hostel women grievance cell that would comprise among others one elected student representative. They also sought regular updates on the cyber investigation into Garia’s arrest.

A student resident said, “As per the primary investigation, no video was found on the culprit’s phone. However, we are insisting on a proper cyber investigation to know if a similar incident had taken place in the past.”

The IIT administration, meanwhile, is firm on waiting before restarting night canteen services. “The canteen will resume functioning once it is staffed exclusively by women…” said a spokesperson.

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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