In Late-Night BHU Clashes, Male Cops Filmed Thrashing Woman Student

Varanasi:  As clashes broke out at Uttar Pradesh's Banaras Hindu University (BHU) last night, a video has emerged showing police thrashing a protesting woman student as others run back into their hostel in panic. The male cops can be seen charging towards the women near the hostel gate and repeatedly hitting one of them. The injured woman then gets up and runs inside before the gate closes. No women constables can be seen in the footage.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an inquiry and asked the Varanasi commissioner to submit a report. BHU Vice Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi has promised action and said installation of CCTV cameras is under process.

The students were protesting against the alleged inaction and victim-shaming by authorities after a fellow student was allegedly molested inside the campus. They have been struggling to meet the VC to apprise him of the safety situation and urge him to take necessary steps. But last night, as they tried to enter his residence, they were stopped by a couple of university guards before the cops intervened and lathicharged.

The students claim that the police lathicharged without provocation and alleged that the cops even tried to enter the women's hostel. At least three motorcycles were set on fire in the violence allegedly by some angry protesters.

The main gate of the university has now been cleared of protesting students and the situation is under control, cops stationed at the university campus said today.

Former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav condemned police action, and tweeted, "Lathicharge on BHU students is condemnable. The government must find solutions through talks and not force. There should be action against those involved."

In a jibe at the ruling party, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said, "BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU". Whereas senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said it has never happened at BHU. "We will raise the issue in Parliament... It is intolerable in a democracy and the government should apologise," he said.
 The first-year student had alleged that three bike-borne men harassed her inside the campus when she returned to her hostel on Thursday evening. She alleged that security guards, who were right there, did nothing to stop them and her hostel warden, instead of taking up the issue with the administration, asked her why was she late.

The warden's response angered students who sat on 'dharna' later that evening. One of the students reportedly got her head tonsured.

The protesting students had hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a two-day visit to Varanasi, would meet them. However, on Thursday, when the Prime Minister and his entourage were supposed to pass by the university, they took a different route.

Sources in the university administration say the BHU campus is huge and open to public and policing every area is not possible. Nonetheless, security inside the campus would be reviewed, they promised.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, the public relations officer of BHU, however, said, "80 per cent of the protesters are outsiders. This is a politically-motivated protest."