Orders have been given to close down Banaras Hindu University (BHU) till October 2, and all the girls have been asked to vacate their rooms by Sunday evening.
Several girls from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) were injured on Saturday night after the police thrashed students protesting against the increasing incidents of eve-teasing inside the campus.
Students of the University went on protest after a woman student of the Arts Faculty was harassed by three men on a motorcycle inside the campus as she was returning to her hostel, but the security guard allegedly did not do anything to stop the accused.
According to reports protest turned violent as one of the protesters tried to set campus property on fire. However, speaking to dnaindia.com, one of the students said that the police used force to vacate protestors from outside Vice Chancellors's residence.
Students also alleged that woman cops were not present when the incident took place. In a video that has emerged, cops can be seen repeatedly hitting woman students with lathi.
"We were peacefully protesting demanding basic safety measures. But since we did not get any response, we sat outside the Vice-Chancellor's residence. However, the VC did not meet us and police were ordered to lathi-charge and forcefully evacuate students," said Ananya, a second-year History (Hons) student.
She also said that male police hit the girls and some students were dragged.
Though lack of security and sexual harassment inside the campus are persistent issues, what angered students was the response of Proctor (security) and the administration who resorted to victim blaming. Why was she returning late to the hostel? If she comes late, what else will happen," students were allegedly told by the staff.
Interestingly, the molestation victim has not been the part of these protests.
Putting up lights on all routes of the campus, installing CCTV camera, removing timing restricting and all the gates should be monitored as any person enters campus, are some of the demands by the protestors.
The students are also demanding to remove time restriction of entering campus. "Six pm is not very late, not even night...and only the campus student should be allowed to come and not outsiders," a student said.
Mahila Maha Vidhyalaya's (MMV) hostel co-ordinator Neelam Atri said that the agitation has taken a different turn and no one is ready to listen.
She also claimed that the meeting regarding installing CCTV cameras on the campus has already been conducted. However, she refused to give any more details.
"The police ran behind students with lathis and some teachers were also beaten up," said Mrs. Sharan, a hostel warden said that
Stating that the gates were closed from outside, she added, "Even after the whole incident, the VC did not come to talk to us. ...some are seriously injured."
Meanwhile, orders have been given to close down BHU till October 2, and all the girls in MMV hostels have been asked to vacate their rooms by evening today. They have also been warned that they'll not be provided with either security or basic facilities of mess, electricity, water etc.
"Students should go home for safety purpose," Sharan said.
Security beefed up after orders to vacate hostels.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has also hit out at BJP government saying, the incident is BJP version of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao in BHU.
Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav also denounced police action.
"It has never happened before at BHU. It is sheer violation of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution," Yadav said in a statement.
BHU, however, said the protest by the students was "politically motivated" to malign the image of the university.
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