Student Unrest Erupts at BHU Over Boundary Wall Proposal Following Molestation Case
Varanasi, Nov 6 – The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has been marred by ongoing student unrest, with two opposing groups engaging in a clash over the proposed construction of a boundary wall. This decision came in the wake of an alleged molestation incident that occurred on campus last week. The clash, which took place on Sunday, was also fueled by the delay in the arrest of the three accused men.
The conflicting groups involved in the clash were associated with the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Left-wing Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha (BSM) and All India Students’ Association (AISA). The ABVP alleged that the BSM and AISA members attacked ABVP female members when they protested against the anti-Hindutva slogans shouted by the opposing groups. However, the BSM and AISA members denied these allegations and claimed that the ABVP members initiated the violence while they were expressing their protest against the delay in the arrests related to the molestation case.
To disperse the clashing groups, the police resorted to mild force. Shivakant Mishra, the station house officer (SHO), confirmed that the scuffle started when ABVP workers confronted AISA-BSM members over the shouting of slogans and the burning of an effigy near the BHU gate.
The President of ABVP’s BHU unit, Abhay Pratap Singh, stated that students from both ABVP and BSM-AISA had been on a sit-in protest since Friday, demanding the swift arrests of the individuals involved in the molestation incident.
Following the clash, the authorities of BHU and IIT-BHU jointly decided that constructing a boundary wall to separate the campuses is not a feasible solution. Instead, they pledged their commitment to ensuring the safety of all students on the entire campus by implementing improved security measures. This decision was reached after a meeting between the Vice-Chancellor of BHU, Prof Sudhir Kumar Jain, and the Director of IIT-BHU, Prof Pramod Kumar Jain, along with other top officials from both institutions. They also discussed various resolutions and strategies to enhance campus security.
The protesting students argued that dividing the campus is not the solution to the problem and advocated for increased security measures instead. This sentiment reflects the need to address the underlying issues and prioritize the safety of students.
The BHU Student Unrest, fueled by disagreements over the proposed boundary wall and the delay in the arrest of the molestation suspects, highlights the complex challenges faced by educational institutions in ensuring the well-being and security of their students. The clash between opposing student groups underscores the importance of dialogue, reaching mutual understanding, and implementing effective measures to combat such incidents and maintain a harmonious learning environment.
