HRD ministry summons BHU VC GC Tripathy over campus violence

VC Tripathi has already left for Delhi on Tuesday morning.

However, a university spokesperson said the quarterly meeting of executive council was pre-scheduled for which the VC has gone to Delhi to attend.

A protest was started on the night of Septemver 21, following an alleged sexual harassment of a student of visual arts near Bharat Kala Bhawan, a Times of India report said.

The girl alleged that she was assaulted by three bike riders and added that the campus security guard, who was standing within 100 metres, didn't react.

In its statement, the BHU said that the protests were politically motivated, to malign the image of the university as prime minister Narendra Modi was visiting Varanasi at that time.

According to the FIR, the incident took place at 6:20 pm on September 21, the eve of Modi's state visit.

In the FIR, lodged a day later, the girl alleged: "I was passing by Bharat Kala Bhawan at 6.20 pm. I was wearing salwar suit. Suddenly, two motorcycle-borne youth came and inserted their hands inside my suit. They then sped away. Due to fading light, I could not recognise the registration numbers."

She further added, "While I was almost unconscious and weeping, my friends, approached guards but their reaction was strange. They made sarcastic remarks on why we move outside after 6 pm. This even as the incident took place hardly 10 metres away from where the guards stood."

The incident has caused a widespread outrage on the campus, with several students staging a demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor's house.

Students have also taken a swipe at the state government, questioning the effectiveness of its anti-Romeo squad.

Several students, including girls, were injured on Saturday night when the police allegedly used force to remove the protesters from outside V-C’s residence.

The ongoing incident has forced state chief minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene; he has asked for a detailed report.

The Uttar Pradesh government has removed three additional city magistrates and two policemen in connection with baton-charge on students in Benaras Hindu University in Varanasi, according to media reports on Monday.

Meanwhile, the police on Monday has filed a first information report (FIR) against nearly 1000 BHU students for arson, media reported.

The situation has forced the university to advance the holiday dates, from September 28 to September 25.

Classes will resume on October 3.