Jagannath University (JnU) students have staged a protest demanding an immediate end to murder, rape, mugging, robbery, and mob violence across the country, as well as ensuring public safety.
The demonstration took place on the university campus on Wednesday noon.
The protest began with the singing of the national anthem, after which the students marched across the entire campus, passing through Shankhari Bazar before concluding at the university’s sculpture square.
During the protest, students voiced their concerns, saying that the interim government after July 2024 has failed to ensure women's safety.
They questioned why women still have to stand with placards demanding their rights and why society continues to witness incidents of rape, mugging, and lawlessness daily.
The students blamed the government for its failure to maintain public security, demanding a guarantee of natural deaths for all citizens.
They stressed that it is the government's duty to ensure the safety of every individual.
Shamsul Alam Maruf, a student of the Law Department, criticized the home affairs adviser’s remark that such incidents are "minor" and "happen all the time."
He said that these so-called minor incidents have led to the loss of many innocent lives, causing widespread insecurity among the general public and disrupting the normal course of life.
Evan Tahsiv, a student of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department, said: “This government has failed to ensure public safety. Whether it is broad daylight or nighttime, we never feel safe while walking on the streets.”
He added: “Every day, incidents of rape and mugging are being exposed on social media. We demand security for men, women, and, above all, the general public.”
Samira Mou, a student of the Film and Television Department, said: “The current situation in the country is extremely concerning. As university students, we study, do tuition jobs, and return home in the evening, but we feel scared.”
She added: “This situation is forcing eight crore women to remain confined inside their homes. Yet, this administration has failed to ensure women's safety. We are demanding a guarantee of natural death.”
Around 50 students participated in the protest.