Patna: A third-year girl student of the prestigious Patna Science College was allegedly molested in full public view on the campus on Wednesday.

The incident took place around 2.30pm when the 22-year-old girl was walking along the road in front of the chemistry department of the college to attend a farewell function being held in the zoology department.

According to college sources, a youth sitting on the boundary wall of the college passed a lewd remark to which the girl took offence.

The boy, said to be a student of nearby Patna College, started abusing the girl when she warned him against making vulgar comments.

It was not known why the boy had entered the Patna Science College campus.

Another girl student who witnessed the incident said: "My friend lost her cool when the youth started abusing her. She caught hold of the boy by his collar and started dragging him to the chamber of the college principal. While going towards the principal's chamber, she even sought help from the bodyguard of Sunita Singh, a teacher of our college. But the security guard refused to help her."

Sunita Singh, a physics teacher, is also the wife of a senior IPS officer.

When the security guard didn't come forward to help the girl, the youth grabbed her hand. Amid all this, some students ran forward to help the girl. Taking advantage of the melee, the boy wriggled out of the girl's clutches and escaped.

Patna Science College campus in-charge Kriteshwar Prasad said they were verifying the boy's identity. "The girl narrated the entire incident to the principal and me. We have come to know that the youth is an economics student of Patna College. His friends were calling him Robin," he said.

Patna Science College principal B.K. Mishra said: "We strongly protest the incident. The college administration has informed the Patna University proctor and we have asked him to lodge an FIR at the Pirbhore police station in this connection."

"The college has also asked the Patna College principal to find out if any boy named Robin is enrolled in the institution. If required, a verification parade of some Patna College students will also be carried out," he added.

However, till Wednesday evening, the Pirbhore police had not received any complaint from the college or university administration.

Station house officer of Pirbhore police station Gulam Sarwar said: "We have come to know about the incident but till now we have not received any complaint from the college authorities."

The molestation happened on a day Patna University announced the much-awaited dates for the students' union elections.

Several students staged a protest in front of the college's main administrative building demanding action against the boy. They said security of students, especially girls, was a major issue and the authorities ought to take steps to ensure an atmosphere of safety on campus.

Sanjeev Sardar, a student leader of Patna University, said: "The incident exposes the lack of safety and security for girl students on campus. We will raise the issue in the elections. We demand security and safety of students, especially girls."