BHU reopens amidst tight security

Lucknow: Classes in the trouble-torn Banaras Hindu University (BHU) resumed after a nine-day break on Tuesday amidst unprecedented security.

A heavy deployment of police was seen on the campus as the university resumed classes.

Meanwhile, days after current incumbent BHU V-C Tripathi proceeded on indefinite leave, registrar Neeraj Tripathi has been designated as the officiating vice-chancellor. Tripathi went on leave two months before his tenure was scheduled to end.

The mood among students, who had been subjected to police action on September 23 while protesting against an incident of sexual assault on a girl student, was subdued since the vice-chancellor Prof Girish Chandra Tripathi has already proceeded on indefinite leave.

The students were particularly upset with Prof Tripathi when he not only denied the lathicharge on girl students but also dismissed the incident of sexual assault as a “minor eve teasing incident.”

Meanwhile, the BHU administration has taken steps to upgrade security, particularly for girl students on the campus.

The newly appointed chief proctor, Prof Royana Singh, said that an email service and a WhatsApp number have been set up so that girls can contact authorities at any time. She said that the girls will have the facility of lodging their complaints on the social media too.

She said the special lighting arrangements have been made around girls’ hostels and security measures at all crossings have been strengthened. CCTV cameras are also being installed and the non-functional ones are being replaced.

Prof Royana Singh was appointed chief proctor after her predecessor, Prof O.N. Singh, resigned owning moral responsibility for the violent incidents on the BHU campus.

A preliminary report by the Commissioner of Varanasi had blamed the BHU administration for “mishandling the situation.” Meanwhile, in related developments, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has indicated that cases against BHU students would be withdrawn. The BHU alumni have sent a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, who is the ex-officio visitor of the university, demanding that cases against 1,000 students be withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Varanasi SSP R.K. Bhardwaj has said that it is not possible to prepare the sketches of the accused, as the victim has failed to give their facial description since the incident took place when it was dark and she could not clearly see their faces.

A crime branch team had visited the girl at her Delhi residence last week to get details of the incident.

“Investigation is in progress on the basis of information she provided to the investigating team”, the SSP said.

It may be recalled that protests outside the BHU campus began when a first-year female student of BHU alleged that she was molested by three bike-borne men on the campus.

A clash broke out between students and police on September 23 outside the BHU campus after police lathi-charged the students, who were protesting against alleged molestation of a girl.

An FIR was also lodged against 1,000 BHU students and several were asked to vacate hostels.