BHU lathicharge LIVE updates: V-C orders inquiry into incident of violence on campus

BHU lathicharge live updates: Tensions have escalated in BHU since the lathicharged on students by the police.

Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Nitin Gokarn on Tuesday blamed Banaras Hindu University (BHU) administration in the preliminary report submitted to Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar, news agency ANI reported. In his report, Gokarn said that the university administration did not deal with the complaint filed by the victim in a sensitive manner. It added that the administration failed to handle the situation on time.

Gokarn submitted his report a day after an FIR was lodged against 1000 unidentified students of the university for allegedly attacking a police team and indulging in violence. Varanasi district administration also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incidents of the past four days, including the lathicharge on students. Tension has escalated in BHU since the lathicharge on students at the hands of the police on Saturday. The students were protesting against the university administration for victim shaming a student who was allegedly sexually harassed by three men inside the campus.

BHU violence Live updates: 

5.30 pm: NHRC has issued notices to Chief Secretary, DGP of UP Police and BHU V-C Girish Chandra Tripathi, calling for a detailed report in the matter, news agency ANI reported. “The response is expected within 4 weeks,” NHRC said.

5.25 pm: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about alleged inaction by BHU authorities into a complaint of sexual harassment. “Suo motu cognizance taken in subsequent use of unwarranted manhandling and thrashing of agitating students, mostly women, by UP police,” news agency ANI quoted NHRC.

5.00 pm: Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the violence in BHU and the lathi-charge on women, Congress state chief Raj Babbar said, “On daughters’ day, girls were beaten up with lathis…they received inhumane treatment. Our Prime Minister was in Varanasi when they (students) were staging dharna, he should have come at least to take a selfie with them.”

4.50 pm: Saying the university will do whatever is in its hand, BHU V-C Tripathi added, “Vyakti ki asmita ka bahut mahatv hai parantu sansthaon ki asmita ka bhi dhyaan rakha chahiye (An individual’s honour is very important but an institution’s honour should also be taken care of)”.

BHU Vice Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi talking to reporters.

4.40 pm: Responding to allegations of alleged gender bias in the university, the V-C said, “Is it wrong if we are more concerned about the security of our girls than our boys?”

4.30 pm: BHU Vice-Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi has ordered an inquiry into the incident of violence on campus. Retired High Court judge BS Dixit is going to head the probe panel. The V-C said the protests escalated due to rumour mongering and alleged involvement of outsiders.

3.10 pm: Informing that orders have been given to install CCTV cameras, UP government spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said that action will be taken against all those found to be at fault. “People came from outside and tried to pollute the environment,” Sharma said.

2:28 pm: Uttar Pradesh governmment spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said a judicial inquiry has been ordered into the violence in Banaras Hindu University, news agency PTI reported.

1:50 pm: BHU Vice-Chancellor G C Tripathi has clarified that the he was not summoned by the HRD Ministry. In a statement to news agency ANI, he said, “This is false news doing rounds in media. I haven’t been summoned by the HRD Ministry.”

1:00 pm: Speaking to reporters on BHU violence, RSS leader Indresh Kumar said the opposition used the daughters for political benefits.

Comrades aur so called opposition ne betiyon ka istemaal kiya, ghor nindeniye hai. :Indresh Kumar,RSS on #BHUViolence pic.twitter.com/Bbj749hZTB

— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2017

12:3o pm: There are some reports claiming that BHU V-C G C Tripathi has been summoned to Delhi by HRD Ministry. The report adds that the university spokesperson are saying that he has not been summoned and has gone to Delhi to attend a quarterly meeting of the Banaras Hindu University Executive council. The Indian Express cannot confirm this at this moment.

11:45 am: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi sought for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the violence in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus in last few days. Gandhi, who is currently on a three-day tour of poll-bound Gujarat, said the Prime Minister should tender an apology as the incident has happened in his constituency of Varanasi. “The incident at BHU is BJP’s version of `Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. And, when they (girls) demand their rights, beat them up. This incident happened in the PM’s constituency. Modiji should apologise to the students of BHU and take immediate action,” Gandhi told reporters at Jamnagar. Read More

11:15 am: After the lathicharge on the students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) meted out at the hands of police, PM Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah spoke to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and asked him to redress the issue. Speaking to reporters, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, “The BHU incident is unfortunate. Any amount of sadness expressed over it is not adequate.” Read More

11:00 am After the recent clashes in Banaras Hindu University (BHU), an FIR was lodged on Monday against 1000 unidentified citizens for allegedly attacking a police team and indulging in violence. The Varanasi district administration also ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incidents, including the lathicharge on students meted out at the hands of the police. Read More

10:45 am: Varanasi District Magistrated Yogeshwar Ram Mishra on Monday wrote a letter to registrar of BHU recommending the formation of a committee to address the complaints of girl students, including those related to hostels. In his letter, the DM also asked the registrar to ensure that appropriate representation of girl students in the panel. Read More

10:30 am: BHU vice-chancellor G C Tripathi on Monday decided to get a judicial inquiry conducted for the violence in the university campus between September 21-23. The four-page report by chief proctor’s report suggests that the assault on a girl student was an instance of “eve-teasing”. Read More

10:00 am: There appears to be a lot of differences in rules and regulations for male and female students at BHU. There is difference in curfew timings. While women have to return to their rooms by 8 pm, the male students have a curfew hour at 10 pm. There have also been allegations of discrimination in hostel menus, and also an unwritten rule that prohibits women from participating in any protest. Read More

9:30 am: BHU Vice-Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi spoke to The Indian Express about the incident of sexual harassment in the university that led to protests. “I think this issue was created by outsiders and the shape it took is what is more unfortunate than the initial incident itself… Some people with vested interests and ulterior motives have triggered this incident,” Tripathi said. He went on to describe the incident as “eve-teasing” and said, “First of all, it is not an incident of molestation, it is one of eve-teasing.” The university is doing its best to ensure women’s safety on the campus. Later he added: “If we are going to listen to every demand of every girl we won’t be able to run the university.” Read More

9:10 am: Gokaran, in his report has said that the university did not deal with the victim’s complaint in a sensitive manner and also failed to handle the situation in time.

9:00 am: Varanasi Commissioner Nitin Gokarn has submitted his preliminary report to Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar, in which he has blamed University administration, news agency ANI reported.