Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that he would withdraw cases against 1,200 students of the reopened Benares Hindu University (BHU) that had been shut for 10 days due to protests between students and staff.
The Chief Minister has sought opinion from the legal department and directed the Varanasi Police not to press cases lodged against BHU students. A few days after the violence on September 23 night in BHU campus, CM Adityanath had stated that his government was not in favour of harassing students.
A delegation of BHU Alumni Association had sent a letter to the President Ram Nath Kovind requesting him to withdraw cases against 1,200 students. The President’s House had sent a communication to the UP Chief Minister’s office to look into the demands of the ex-students.
Taking prompt action on the President’s communiqué, the Chief Minister has directed the Home department and the DGP Sulkhan Singh to ensure that all cases against students were closed and withdrawn.
The investigation into the BHU violence would, however, continue to probe role of the BHU administration and outsiders, said a home department official.
After Vice-Chancellor Prof GC Tripathi went on an indefinite ‘forced’ leave, the BHU administration conceded two major demands of female students. For the first time, seven women guards were posted in their hostels. They are wives of Army martyrs and drawn into security by Army Welfare Department. Their numbers would be increased in days to come.
Security personnel outnumbered students on re-opening of the campus on Tuesday. Unlike September 23, more women force was deployed in the campus to instill confidence among female students.
The BHU administration has also installed 52 new CCTV cameras on its gates and in and around women hostels to keep a round the clock vigil on unwanted visitors. A team of local intelligence unit has also been deployed in plain clothes to keep a watch on anti-socials.
The Chief Proctor Prof Royana Singh has again released helpline numbers 08004922000 / 0542-2369134 on which female students can seek any help in emergency situation. “Our team will reach for their help within ten minutes,” reiterated Prof Singh.
A team of Varansi Development Authority also visited the campus to identify dark spots which will be illuminated with LED lights. “The LED lights will be put into place within three days,” said a VDA official.
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