BHU tense after clash between students and security staff

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) witnessed tense scenes on Tuesday night after a clash between students and university security personnel, with several flower pots, vehicles and chairs damaged during the confrontation. As the situation escalated, police teams from neighbouring stations along with the Provincial Armed Constabulary arrived and brought the situation under control after considerable effort.

“The security officer of the university submitted a petition after which we registered a First Information Report relates to public nuisance and some other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against two named and 100 unnamed people. Out of the two named accused one is a former student. The two named people had an altercation with the security which resulted in the incident,” Gaurav Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Varanasi, said.

Students alleged that the matter began when a vehicle reportedly struck a female student. Security staff became involved in a dispute when students went to register a complaint regarding the vehicle, after which the confrontation between the security personnel and students broke out. It has been alleged that security staff detained some students.

A large number of students quickly assembled and staged a sit-in protest in front of the Vice Chancellor’s residence. As the conflict intensified, students damaged decorative flowerpots and other items near the LD Guest House and threw stones at university security personnel. Several students sustained minor injuries during the incident.