If you’ve ever power-walked to your Delhi University college, AirPods in, main-character-ing your way to class, but still clocking every sketchy bike that slows down, this story’s going to hit close. The acid attack near Lakshmibai College isn’t a one-off black swan; it’s a gut punch for every student who’s turned vigilance into a daily routine. Let’s decode what happened, why campus outrage is popping off, and, seriously, what needs to change already.
1. So, Here’s What Actually Went Down
A 20-year-old DU student survived an acid attack just outside Lakshmibai College on October 26, 2025. Police say three men, Jitender, Ishan, and Arman, pulled up, handed a bottle, and one chucked the chemical. The survivor, shielded her face with her hands, ending up with burn injuries but is, thankfully, out of danger and getting treatment.
Image courtesy New Indian Express
A month prior, there’d been heated arguments and stalking, classic red flags no one flagged hard enough. A case is now registered under the new BNS sections and a citywide manhunt launched, with CCTV footage being combed for clues. The survivor’s words—“I kept screaming, but no one stopped”—just hit different, capturing a bystander culture we wish was just fictional.
2. The One With The Campus Outrage (And Receipts)
If you thought campus rivalries were only for fest season, think again, student bodies from SFI to ABVP stood united (plot twist!) demanding real safety, not jugaad and half-hearted patrolling. SFI labelled the attack ‘systemic negligence,’ recalling past scares like that mystery acid bottle found near another DU gate. DUSU and ABVP leaders want arrests ASAP, more eyes in the sky (CCTV!), and actual patrolling, not the once-a-week photo op kind.
Image courtesy Hindustan Times
Protests and hospital visits weren’t just for Insta stories, students want answers. Even the infinite scroll crowd is asking, “Why here, why again?” It’s not just déjà vu; it’s a well-documented safety gap.
3. The Safety Gap No One Wants To Own
Let’s get real: Why are corrosive chemicals still so easy to score around campuses? Cops did post-incident forensics, collected CCTV, and dusted the scene, love the hustle, but we want prevention, not just crime-scene montages.
Did you know: Courts have said survivors of such attacks must get free medical care, no drama, plus quick counseling and cash compensation that actually lands in their bank, not lost in bureaucratic Bermuda Triangles?
4. A Complicated Twist, Handled Carefully
Plot thickens: After the attack, the main accused’s wife filed a separate complaint, alleging sexual assault by the survivor’s father. Both cases are with the cops right now, being probed independently, because facts > WhatsApp theories. It’s crucial to let parallel investigations play out, to ensure fair justice, not just fast-forward drama.
Image courtesy India Today
No space here for victim-blaming or spreading wild conspiracy threads—we’re sticking to empathy and the latest police statements, full stop.
5. What Students Want—Like, Yesterday
The wishlist is long, but basic: Live human guards and cop patrols near every women’s college. Ban the sale of anything even remotely corrosive within a college mile radius; make CCTV feeds actually live-monitored, not just for show. Students want walk-safe buddy systems, piped-up emergency contacts, and collabs with the nearest police station—for real training, not just chai-namkeen PR.