BHU violence: NHRC issues notice to UP Govt, UP DGP and VC

Varanasi : In wake of violence which took place in BHU (Banaras Hindu University) campus, NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) on Tuesday issued a notice to Chief Secretary, DGP (Director General of Police) UP (Uttar Pradesh) and BHU VC (Vice-Chancellor) seeking a detailed report on the matter.

NHRC is expected to submit his response within four weeks.

NHRC took the action after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports about alleged inaction by authorities of BHU into complaints of eve-teasing.

The NHRC its statement said, "Suo motu cognizance taken in the subsequent use of unwarranted manhandling and thrashing of agitating students, mostly women, by UP police"

The development comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Shrikant Sharma asserted that a judicial inquiry has been initiated to probe the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) violence case earlier today.

A number of students were hurt when clashes broke out between the police and students of BHU after the students started protesting against alleged molestation of a girl.

The students alleged that the police thrashed them and dragged them by the hair, but DM Varanasi, who was present on the spot, denied all such claims.

Reportedly, protesting students tried to enter the residence of the Vice Chancellor and when the deployed security forces tried to stop them, students became violent; it is then when the security forces used lathi-charged to disperse them.

The victim in the matter had claimed that she went to the university administration for complaining about the incident but the administration in lieu of taking any action against the molesters shamed the victim for her awkward hostel timings.

Angered over the laid back attitude of the administration and lack of action from the side, the students staged protests outside the campus on Friday and blocked entry to the campus through the main gate