SAU Removes Warden, Suspends Caretaker in Attempted Rape Case Amid Sustained Student Protests

New Delhi: Bowing to one of the central demands of protesting students, the South Asian University (SAU) on Thursday (October 16) removed the women’s hostel warden from her post and suspended an outsourced hostel caretaker, both of whom students had accused of negligence and victim-blaming following an alleged attempted gang-rape on campus.

The action came on the fourth day of a continuous student sit-in at the university’s administrative block.

According to two separate office orders issued by the university administration on Thursday, Rinkoo Devi Gupta “stands relieved from her responsibilities of wardenship with immediate effect”. She continues to hold her position as an associate professor at the university.

In the second order, Anupma Arora, an outsourced ‘Assistant II’ at the women's hostel, was “suspended till the submission of the Enquiry Report”.

The removal and suspension directly address a primary demand from students, who have called for immediate action against the two officials since Monday.

Students alleged that in the aftermath of the October 12 incident, Gupta and Arora failed to provide timely help, made insensitive remarks to the survivor, including accusing her of tearing her own clothes, and told her to “take a shower”, which they argued was an attempt to destroy evidence.

The university has appointed Kajori Bhatnagar, an assistant professor, to take over the charge of warden.

While this move meets one of the students' two key demands, protesters have also called for a fast-tracked police investigation to identify the four men who allegedly assaulted the student.

Their broader demands for the resignation of senior officials, including the dean of students and the proctor, also remain unaddressed.

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