Hundreds of students took to the streets of New Delhi on Wednesday to demand greater safety for women after a 17-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted by three men allegedly posing as police officers at a park in the Indian capital.

Police shot and arrested one suspect on Tuesday and were questioning two other suspects, who are brothers, senior police officer Vijay Kumar told reporters. The investigation followed the teenager’s report of the alleged assault.

Most of the protesters were women, with several wearing face masks as they marched near the location of the alleged crime. Demonstrators carried placards and shouted slogans calling for greater protection for women and the freedom to travel at night without fear.

Some signs carried messages such as “Our body is our own,” while others called for women to be able to move freely after dark without fear of violence.

The alleged assault occurred about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Lady Shri Ram College, one of India’s prominent women’s colleges. The college suspended classes on Tuesday after the suspect was shot only a short distance from its campus.

A college official, who declined to be identified, said classes were suspended around noon after students became concerned following the shooting.

LSR Principal Kanika K. Ahuja said the college cancelled classes after learning about the incident and emphasized that the safety, security and well-being of students were the institution’s top priority, according to local media reports.

The father of the two brothers questioned in connection with the case was quoted by local media as saying that his sons had been framed. Reuters said it had not immediately been able to establish how the arrested suspect had responded to the allegations.

Sexual violence remains a major issue in India. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows that more than 80 rapes are reported to police across the country each day.

Activists say the actual number of sexual assaults is likely higher because many incidents are not reported, with victims sometimes facing blame and social stigma.

The alleged gang rape of a student in Delhi in 2012 sparked nationwide protests and led to legal reforms, including tougher punishments for convicted offenders and the creation of fast-track courts.

Despite those changes, analysts say sexual violence remains a serious problem, pointing to factors including deeply rooted gender inequality, understaffed police forces and delays in the judicial system.

The investigation into the latest case remains ongoing.

SOURCE: Reuters, September 23, 2026.