BHU violence: DCW writes to Narendra Modi seeking V-C Girish Chandra Tripathi's resignation

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that the BHU vice-chancellor be terminated over the handling of the recent violence on the campus. “BHU V-C (Girish Chandra Tripathi) should be terminated for baton-charge on girls and strict action should be taken against him. Girls at BHU campus and hostels should be provided security,” Maliwal said in her letter to Modi. “University or College administration should be made accountable for any mishap or harassment of girls on campus or college,” she said. [caption id=“attachment_4089677” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file image of BHU students during a standoff with the police outside the university gates. PTI[/caption] A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge by the police in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent. The incident was not only traumatising but it also highlighted the callousness of the administration over such impetus concern. Girls face eve teasing and groping on campus regularly, the letter said. “Even after several complaints, the administration did not take action against the miscreants. To make their voices heard, the girls protested and were baton-charged by the police,” it said. Maliwal said that the sexual harassment and discrimination against girls “is not limited to the BHU campus”. Such practices are prevalent in prestigious colleges in the national capital as well. In the last one week, security of girls in two colleges of the DU has been brought to limelight, she said. “Around 500 students of Ambedkar College went to the police station demanding for safe and secure campus for girls where eve teasing and groping was a regular occurrence. At Khalsa College, some boys tried to forcibly enter the girl’s hostel,” she said. The women’s body has sought PMO’s intervention into any discrimination in hostel timing for boys and girls and drafting of a national policy to ensure safety of girls on campus.