Varanasi/Lucknow: A number of students including women and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) that witnessed violence last night, in an ugly turn to a protest against an alleged harassment incident.
In the wake of the violence, the university has announced “holidays” from tomorrow until October 2.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a report from Divisional Commissioner about the incident as various political parties including Samajwadi Party, criticised the government and condemned the police action.
A number of students including women and two journalists were injured in the baton charge by the police.
Some policemen were also injured in the clashes during which students indulged in arson, police sources said.
Violence erupted after some students, protesting against the alleged harrasement on Thursday, wanted to meet the Vice-Chancellor at his residence last night, according to police and university sources.
The security guards of the university stopped them and the police was informed, according to the sources.
BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to “forcibly” enter the VC’s residence but they were stopped by the security guards of the university.
Subsequently, there was stone pelting by “outsiders” who had joined the students.
Police used batons to control the situation.
“I have sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident,” Adityanath said in Lucknow.
The police move on journalists led to protests in Lucknow, with some journalists staging a sit-in near the CM’s residence. They later gave a memorandum to the District Magistrate demanding action against the guilty.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the baton charge of the students in BHU.
“The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge [baton charge]. It is condemnable. Action should be taken against the guilty,” Akhilesh tweeted.
Last night, the BHU issued a statement, saying the sit-in by ttudents just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit was “politically motivated”, meant to malign the image of the university.
The university also said that security guards regularly patrolled campus and assistance from the police is sought from time-to-time to maintain peace in the campus.
Senior officials including District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and SP (city) Dinesh Singh reached the campus along with a large posse of police.
Nearly 1,500 policemen including PAC personnel have been deployed in and around the campus to maintain law and order in the campus.
The BHU students have been protesting near the university’s main gate since Thursday against the rising eve- teasing incidents on the campus.
The trigger was an incident in which a student of the Arts faculty alleged harassment by three men on a motorcycle on campus while she was returning to her hostel.
The three men abused her and fled when she resisted their attempts, according to the complainant.
The woman alleged that security guards, about 100 metres from where the incident happened, did nothing to stop the men.
She said her warden, instead of taking up the issue with her superiors, asked her why was she was returning late to the hostel.
The warden’s response angered the student’s colleagues, who conducted a sit-in protest at the main gate at midnight on Thursday. One of the students got her head tonsured.
BHU students have alleged they have to face harrasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration isn’t protecting them.
Police and BHU professors tried to pacify the students yesterday, but they refused to end their protest and sought assurance from the university vice chancellor.
A large number of police personnel have been deployed near the campus as a security precaution, said the police.
