Harassment at the hands of unauthorised boarders at Patna College hostels has made lives of students, especially girls, difficult.

Minto and Jackson hostels, among the five accommodation facilities available for Patna College students, are always in the news for violence, unrest or harassment. Last year, Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri stopped issuing accommodation facilities to students of Patna College following clashes between outsiders and students. That has led to a different menace, though.

Now, illegal boarders - neither associated with the college nor studying there - have taken occupancy of the hostels and are making life difficult for any student who come up in their path. The hostels have earned the reputation of being a den of trouble mongers and mischief-makers. Hardly a day passes by without reports of violence in and around the hostels. The pathway near the hostels remain empty and no one dares to go there. Those who do regret it.

Last week, a graduate from Magadh Mahila College realised it the hard way.

The girl was supposed to go to the university to apply for a postgraduate course but reached Patna College instead. Told to approach Patna University, the student took a short-cut through the campus and was left victimised by unauthorised boarders of Jackson Hostel.

"It was the second time I was on my way to Patna University to collect the challan form and submit the necessary documents for admission. I was not aware about the nuisance at the hostels. On way to the university through the college campus, my friends and I reached the hostels by mistake. Some men, sitting at the patio of Jackson Hostel, started calling out to us. When we did not respond, they started shouting abuses at us."

Another Patna Women's College student had a similar experience a few days earlier near Minto Hostel. The men threw cans and bottles at her from the balconies when she refused to react to their catcalls and wolf whistles.

Sociology teacher of Patna College and warden of the hostels Randhir Kumar Singh said: "Outsiders can easily access Jackson Hostel even if the college's main gate is closed. No students live in the hostel now and it is just occupied by illegal boarders who spend their days commenting on passers-by, trying to create problems on the campus. This has not only vitiated the peaceful atmosphere of the hostels but also prevented bright students from taking accommodation there."

Vice-chancellor Simhadri said: "The people occupying the hostels are criminals and trouble mongers who disturb the educational atmosphere of this institution. After they are evicted, development work of the institution can be undertaken smoothly, without any hindrance. Notices have been served on the unauthorised lodgers to vacate the hostels. The high court has already issued a notice on May 17 for the anti-encroachment squad, including Patna University engineers, district administration and police, to evict the unauthorised people from the hostel campus."

Till the squad completes its assignment, students are better off avoiding the hostels lest they are harassed.

One Patna College student, now in her second year, said in 2014 she had reached the pathway leading to Jackson Hostel by mistake. "The pathway was totally empty and the boys near the hostel started whistling at me and passed lewd comments. I asked them to shut up but they turned aggressive and started throwing pebbles and stones at me. My legs and shoulder were injured. After that incident, I never dared to even go near the area. Some of my seniors told me they faced the same ordeal as well."