Security at Hostel-10 and Hostel-15

The following article presents the details of the security concerns raised by some Hostel-15 residents on 1 September 2024 which were consequently reported to the relevant authorities. Further, the article covers the security enhancements that have taken place in Hostel-10 since the break-in incidents that occurred there in September and December 2023. It also includes comments of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (ADean SA), the Hostel-15 General Secretary, the Warden, and the hostel staff regarding the suspected incident and the ongoing steps being taken to enhance the security of Hostel-15. 

Hostel 15

On 1 September 2024, Sunday, a few residents of Hostel 15’s B wing noticed some scratch marks on their doors. Even though it’s not clear yet what might have caused the scratch marks,  some people suspected that they might have been a result of a potential break-in attempt. The suspected incident is purported to have happened between 5:00-5:15 PM. During that time, most of the residents of the 12-member wing in which the incident was suspected to have occurred, claimed to have either been in the mess or outside the hostel. Upon return, the wing residents claimed to have found scratch marks on 4 out of the 6 doors in the wing and a broken lock (the section, where the key is inserted, seemed to have fallen out) outside one of the rooms. The residents mentioned that they didn’t find anything missing from their rooms on the Hostel-15 Maintenance Feedback WhatsApp group. On the following day, some residents residing in other wings also reported similar scratch marks on their doors on the aforementioned WhatsApp group. Insight later also approached some other residents of Hostel-15, who mentioned that no such incidents were noticed by them. Some of the staff members of Hostel-15 also believe that nothing has happened. They believe that the scratch marks were caused by the hostel authorities breaking the locks left behind by some of the guests who had stayed in Hostel-15 during December 2023 (guests who had come for Mood Indigo, for instance) and that the marks were only being noticed now. According to them, it was a misunderstanding on the part of the residents who had brought up the issue. 

Insight also talked to the Warden of Hostel-15, who confirmed the sequence of events as mentioned by the residents who had originally noticed the scratch marks. She mentioned that she doesn’t believe the intention of the suspected incident was theft. She informed us that another case was reported during the duration in which male entry was not allowed in the hostel, so the incidents might’ve been a result of some potential mischief by a resident of the hostel itself. 

After noticing the scratch marks, the wing residents, who originally noticed the marks, promptly reached out to the warden, who directed them to write a letter to security. Upon the submission of the letter, guards and the police arrived at the wing to inspect the situation, and guards were stationed there overnight to ensure the safety of the wing residents. Guards were present in the 12-member wing for at least 2 weeks after the incident took place – as recalled by a resident of the wing. 

Following this, a petition in the form of a Google form was floated on the Maintenance WhatsApp group of Hostel-15 by the residents to demand improved security in the form of additional security guards and the installation of CCTV cameras in wings, lifts, entrances, etc. The wing residents (who originally noticed the scratch marks) escalated the issue to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs (ADean SA), showing him a Google form filled by residents supporting their initiatives. Owing to these incidents, a mail was sent to all the residents of Hostel-15 by the Maintenance Council of Hostel-15, that said: ‘Due to security concerns, male entry into the hostel has been restricted until 10th September. Please note that boys will also not be allowed in the common room during this period.’ This was later extended to 22nd September.

Insight talked to the Hostel 15 council to confirm the flow of events, who mentioned the same set of incidents as described by the wing residents who noticed the scratch marks. The General Secretary of Hostel Affairs and the Hostel-15 General Secretary, along with the students, met with the ADean SA on 2nd September, who talked to security about the suspected incident on September 1, 2024. The Hostel-15 General Secretary suggested installing CCTV cameras in common spaces like the ground floor and lifts to increase security. This was consulted with the residents of Hostel-15 via a poll the results of which are shown below. All the residents who answered the poll said they had no issues with cameras in corridors at the time of publishing:

The Hostel-15 General Secretary also mentioned that a decision on the installation of cameras in the wings will be taken after consulting the residents of Hostel-15. The results of a poll for the same are shown below:

Insight also talked to the previous Hostel-15 General Secretary, who informed us that the Hostel Council had submitted proposals to the Institute administration for installing CCTV cameras in the Hostel-15 premises during the last tenure as well. However, no such installation had happened then.

At the time of publishing, it’s still unclear whether the suspected incident was a result of acts of breaking into the rooms, and if so, who is responsible for the same. Insight interviewed the ADean SA regarding the case. He mentioned that regardless of the ambiguity regarding the exact sequence of events and whether these were attempts at breaking into rooms, upscaling security has been prioritized to make the residents feel safe and comfortable. The Assistant Security Officer (ASO) has, at the time of publishing, submitted a proposal for the installation of CCTV cameras in Hostel-15 along with the Hostel-15 authorities to the ADean SA. The timeline for the installation of cameras and the source of funds is still being worked out by the relevant authorities, as informed to us by the Hostel 15 Warden. 

Hostel 10

This is not the first case of alleged security breaches/break-ins in girls’ hostels at IIT Bombay. Last year, on September 15 2023, a break-in incident was reported in Hostel-10. In response to this, security in Hostel-10 was proposed to be increased by repairing old faulty CCTV cameras and installing new ones with panoramic views in the required areas. There were also requests to add additional guards, but these measures weren’t implemented until later in the months following December 2023.

On December 16, 2023, late at night, the Hostel-10 council informed residents via messages on the official WhatsApp groups, of yet another break-in incident. An unauthorized male was reported to be roaming in the A-D wing of the 7th floor of Hosetl-10. After this, security porous points were identified, and a security inspection was done by the Estate Office in the presence of the Hostel-10 Warden and Associate Warden, the Hostel-10 General Secretary, and the Hostel-10 Hall Manager. 

Since these incidents, security measures have been taken in Hostel-10. Insight spoke to the previous General Secretary of Hostel-10 regarding these security advancements that include:

1. The exit door of the N wing is now double-locked and equipped with a rolling shutter for added security.

2. High spikes have been installed on the walls of the N wing gates to prevent scaling from outside, following approval from the Estate Office.

3. Aluminum grills have been installed to shield the glass windows near the lift area on all floors of N wing susceptible to scaling.

4. Security measures have been enhanced for the gates between the old and new wings.

5. Malfunctioning glass window latches/locks on certain ground-floor stairs have been replaced to prevent unauthorized entry.

6. Rusty or accessible shutters from outside have been identified and properly sealed.

7. The installation of new working shutters in strategic locations had been proposed but it’s still in progress.

8. Old faulty CCTV cameras have been repaired.

9. A male security personnel has been deployed, 24 hours a day, at the back gate of the hostel which was previously unguarded. Some policy changes with respect to hostel visitation have also been implemented in Hostel-10, a few of those include:

a) Mess entry is now restricted to IITB cardholders, who must submit their ID cards at the security desk. Individuals checking in are required to provide their complete details, and the notation of +1 or +2, along with any guest entry, is not permitted.

b) Workers or contractors visiting the hostel must furnish their full details and submit either IIT Bombay gate pass or a government-approved ID. Access to the hostel’s interiors is not granted unless accompanied by a female office staff member of the hostel.

c) Guest entry in the hostel is now conditional upon the submission of government-approved identification documents by the guests at the security desk.

e) According to Institute regulations, a host may check in up to three guests with their ID cards. In such instances, each guest must submit their ID card and provide entry details. The use of +1 or +2 notations is not allowed.

f) Mess guest entry is restricted to 100 guests during lunch and 50 guests during dinner. Mess guest entry time is 12:00 PM -12:45 PM, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM for Lunch, and 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM for Dinner. A staff member from the hostel office and one from the caterer’s side are positioned near A wing lift from the mess and the door towards N wing from the Mess to make sure no trespassing happens.

g) In case of checking in family members to avail mess facility, entering their details in the mess entry register is mandatory.

a. If the family’s ID cards have already been submitted at the security section, there is no need to submit/resubmit cards during mess entry.

b. Family members must be accompanied by the student host, except in cases where the student has a medical issue and is confined to their room.

Even though there were requests and suggestions from the Hostel Council of Hostel-10 regarding security upgrades after the incident in September, the issue was taken up seriously, and the above-mentioned security enhancements were deployed in the months following December, as informed to us by the previous Hostel-10 General Secretary. Since the implementation of these measures, there have been no reported incidents of break-ins/security breaches in Hostel-10. A similar model, the ADean SA told us, is being planned for Hostel-15 to make it more safe. 

The ADean SA has requested students not to panic given the lack of clarity surrounding the suspected incident in Hostel-15. He has urged students to escalate issues regarding security in the future by complaining to security guards (and to escalate the issues to the administration in case of any lapse from the side of security guards) and contacting the QRT (Quick Response Team) to report any potential security breaches. 

You may contact the Quick Response Team at 9167398598, 9833337979, or 9833338989.

We, at Insight, hope that these security enhancements are carried out timely and effectively to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.

Editorial Credits: Ananya Jain, Ishita Poddar, Vaidehi Jha