Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: Demanding judicial probe into the incident of lathi charge by police on the Banaras Hindu University students, nearly 50 academicians and activists wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.
According to the report published in Deccan Herald, their demand also includes accountability of BHU authorities. They alleged that Girish Chandra Tripathi, Vice Chancellor of the University failed completely in ensuring students’ protection.
Read also: BHU molestation case: Police uses lathicharge against protesting students
In the letter written to PM and President, they said, “We demand immediate action be taken against the police for the brutal act, suspension of the SP/DIG, the judicial inquiry of the event and meeting the demands of the students and ensure their treatment and safety. We demand accountability of the University authorities as students are living and studying within the University premises and their safety has to be guaranteed by the head of the institution”.
Among the activists who signed the letter are Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Harsh Mander. Ayesha Kidwai and Nivedita Menon from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Satish Deshpande and Apoorva Anand from Delhi University also signed the letters.
It may be mentioned that the Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday lathi-charged the Banaras Hindu University students, who were protesting for three days against the alleged eve-teasing of a varsity girl.
The students alleged that the police thrashed them and dragged them through hair, but DM Varanasi, who was present on the spot, denied all such allegations.
Speaking on this issue, Asmita Basu of Amnesty International India Programmes said that the students have a right to protest peacefully.