BHU students protest: Yogi Adityanath seeks report on alleged police excesses, violence in varsity

Lucknow/Varanasi: Several officials are in the dock consequent to the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) violence on Saturday night as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has asked for a report from the Varanasi Police Commissioner regarding the incident. [caption id=“attachment_4022007” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. PTI[/caption] The agitation by woman students against a sexual harassment incident turned violent at the BHU campus in Varanasi on Saturday night when they took their protest to the VC’s office and started shouting slogans. They were also joined by men from other hostels. In the ensuing police action, students and several reporters became victims of a baton-charge led by 1,500-strong police force. The police reportedly refused to allow the reporters to enter the BHU trauma centre for emergency aid. After the angry media personnel surrounded the chief minister’s house on Sunday, Adityanath informed them that a report has been sought from the police commissioner through Twitter. As the situation remains tense, the BHU along with other universities of the district have been told to remain shut till October 2. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has suggested that the state government defuse the tension through talks instead of using force. Yadav has sent an eight-member representative group to Varanasi to take stock of the situation.