Students, journalists injured in BHU violence; Adityanath seeks report

Varanasi/Lucknow: A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in lathi-charge by the police in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) which witnessed violence Saturday night, in an ugly turn to a protest against an alleged eve-teasing incident.

In the wake of the violence, the university has announced "holidays" from Monday until October 2, advancing it from September 28.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sought a report from Divisional Commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including Samajwadi Party, criticised the government and condemned the police action.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathi charge by the police.

Some policemen were also injured in the clashes during which students indulged in arson, police sources said.

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

The security guards of the university stopped them and the police were informed, according to the University sources.

BHU spokesperson said some students wanted to "forcibly" enter the VC's residence but they were stopped by the security guards of the university.

Subsequently, there was stone pelting by "outsiders" who had joined the students. Police used lathicharge to control the situation.

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

The lathicharge on journalists led to protests in Lucknow with some journalists staging a sit-in near the CM's residence. They later gave a memorandum to the District Magistrate demanding action against the guilty.

Last night, the BHU issued a statement, saying the 'dharna' by the students just 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.

Senior officials including District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and SP (city) Dinesh Singh reached the campus along with a large posse of police.

Nearly 1500 policemen including PAC personnel have been deployed in and around the campus to maintain law and order on the campus.

The BHU students have been protesting near the university's main gate since Thursday against the rising eve-teasing incidents on the campus.

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.