UP CM Yogi Adityanath seeks report over violence in BHU; university announces early Dussehra break

Violence erupted in BHU after some students, protesting against the alleged eve-teasing incident wanted to meet the VC.

Varanasi/Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a report from Divisional Commissioner about lathi-charge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on a number of students, including women were injured.

"I have sought a report from the Divisional Commissioner, Varanasi, about the entire incident," the CM said in Lucknow. 

#UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath ने कमिश्नर वाराणसी से बीएचयू के पूरे घटनाक्रम की रिपोर्ट मांगी है।

— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) September 24, 2017

Violence erupted after some students, protesting against the alleged eve-teasing incident of Thursday, wanted to meet the Vice Chancellor at his residence last night, according to police and university sources, PTI reported.

The trigger was an incident in which a woman student of Arts faculty alleged harassment by three men on a motorcycle inside the 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 sat on a 'dharna' at the main gate midnight Thursday. One of the students even got her head tonsured.

BHU students have alleged they have to face eve-teasers on the campus regularly and the varsity administration was not taking any action to stop the miscreants.

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.

Last night, the BHU issued a statement, saying the 'dharna' by the students just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.

The university also said that security guards were regularly patrolling the campus and assistance from the police is sought from time-to-time to maintain peace in the campus.

Meanwhile, the university has announced "holidays" from tomorrow till October 2, advancing it from September 28.

On the other hand, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the lathicharge of the students in BHU.

नारी रक्षा व गरिमा की बात करने वालों ने BHU में छात्राओं व प्रेस पर लाठी चार्ज कर साबित कर दिया है कि अब आवाज़ उठाने की आज़ादी भी छिन गयी है

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 24, 2017

"The government should resolve the issue by talks, not by lathicharge. It is condemnable. Action should be taken againt the guilty," Akhilesh tweeted.

(With Agency inputs)