The Uttar Pradesh police have issued summons to more than a dozen students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) involved in last week’s protests, citing various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder.
The police notice follows the First Information Report registered against 1,000 unknown BHU students on allegations of arson during the recent protests by students over a molestation case in the Central varsity campus.
An FIR had been lodged at the Lanka police station in Varanasi under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duties), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house).
Superintendent of Police (SP), Crime, Varanasi, Gyanendra Nath Prasad said notices have been issued to 14 students. Those identified will have to appear before the Crime Branch, which is probing the case, by the end of Monday. “Your absence will be understood to mean that you have nothing to say on it,” read a notice.
Mr. Prasad said 14 students were identified and issued notices after considering their “past controversies” on campus and involvement in controversial events, based on intelligence inputs.
The police officer said the students were being summoned only for questioning.
The students, however, accused the administration of targeting them in the case. Roshan Pandey, a third year Arts student, was among the protesters who received a notice. Mr. Pandey said he was being targeted for his “democratic” activism on campus on issues related to women’s safety, equality and rights.