The arrests stem from an incident on December 26, 2024, when 13 individuals, including three women, associated with the Bhagat Singh Students Morcha (BSM), a Marxist student organisation at BHU, were taken into custody by the Lanka Police Station in Varanasi. They were subsequently sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Varanasi District Court. The arrests followed a discussion held on December 25 to mark Manusmriti Dahan Divas, commemorating Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s historic burning of the Manusmriti in 1927. The discussion, held at the university’s Arts Faculty, was disrupted by university officials and security staff, leading to a scuffle between the students and security guards. Among those detained are nine students and four alumni, currently held in District Jail, Chaukaghat. As they were transferred to jail, the students raised slogans such as “Manusmriti Murdabad, Inquilab Zindabad, Jai Bhim,” and “Stop violence against students,” highlighting their resistance to state repression. The jailed students were also interrogated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

The delegation also met with the Superintendent of the District Jail in Varanasi to address the mistreatment of the detained students. They submitted a memorandum outlining 10 key demands, including:

1. Immediate disciplinary action against police personnel who demanded a bribe of ₹200 per person to allow visitors to meet the students, along with threats of physical harm if the bribe was not paid.
2. Provision of facilities to the students in accordance with the jail manual.
3. Ensuring a conducive environment for study by accommodating the students in separate barracks.
4. Medical treatment for injured or unwell students, including proper examinations.
5. Avoiding the treatment of students as hardened criminals.

The delegation included Advocate Premprakash Singh Yadav, Advocate Ramdular Prajapati, Advocate Rajesh Kumar Yadav, Advocate Sushil Kumar, Advocate Kamlesh Yadav, Advocate Satyaprakash, Advocate Veerbali Singh Yadav, Advocate Awadhesh, Advocate Ajit Singh Yadav, Advocate Shridutt, and Advocate Rakesh.

Background of the incident

On December 25, 2024, the Bhagat Singh Students Morcha (BSM) organised a discussion at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to observe Manusmriti Dahan Divas, commemorating the historic day in 1927 when Dr. B.R. Ambedkar burned the Manusmriti as a protest against caste discrimination. The event, held at the university’s Arts Faculty, was disrupted by BHU’s Proctorial Board guards, who allegedly misbehaved with the participants, forcibly dragging them to the Proctorial Board office, where they were locked up around 7:30 PM.

The following day, December 26, an FIR was filed against 13 members of the BSM, accusing them of serious offences. These individuals, including three women, were subsequently arrested by the Lanka Police Station and sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Varanasi District Court. Reports indicate that during the disruption, the students were physically assaulted, their clothes torn, and their glasses broken. Students who attempted to intervene were also pushed, beaten, and detained. It is further alleged that the Proctorial Board and the police issued threats to the students, warning of retaliation and harm to their future prospects.

The arrested students were held overnight at the Lanka Police Station without access to legal counsel. Allegedly, they were beaten and sustained injuries while in custody. These students are now detained in District Jail, Chaukaghat.

An FIR (No. 523/2024) was filed against the students under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These include:

• Section 132: Assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty.
• Section 121(2): Causing grievous hurt to a public servant.
• Section 196(1): Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, or language.
• Section 299: Outraging religious feelings through deliberate and malicious acts.
• Section 190: Unlawful assembly for an offence committed by the group.
• Section 191(2): Rioting.
• Section 115(2): Voluntarily causing hurt.
• Section 110: Attempt to commit culpable homicide.

The FIR, filed on the complaint of BHU Security Officer Omprakash Tiwari and Assistant Security Officer Hasan Abbas Zaidi, states that on December 25 at 5:30 PM, a group of 20–25 BSM members gathered near the Arts Faculty Square, allegedly planning to burn copies of the Manusmriti as part of the Manusmriti Dahan Divas observance. The complainants, accompanied by Proctorial Board members and security personnel, approached the group to pacify them. However, the students allegedly misbehaved, pushed, and assaulted the security team.

The FIR claims that two women security personnel, Shipra Mishra and Shikha Mishra, sustained serious injuries and fainted during the altercation, requiring treatment at BHU Trauma Centre. The report also alleges that the actions of the students disrupted public harmony.

The 13 individuals identified in the FIR include Mukesh Kumar, Sandeep Jaiswal, Amar Sharma, Arvind Pal, Anupam Kumar, Lakshman Kumar, Avinash, Arvind, Shubham Kumar, Adarsh, Ipsita Agarwal, Siddhi Tiwari, and Katyayani B. Reddy. The charges against them carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

A detailed report may be read here.

Related:

Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill: Bogey of “urban naxals” invoked to legitimise clamping down of dissent?

A new hope: Student activists charged under UAPA get bail

Hate Unleashed: Protest erupts in Quantum University, students’ chant “Jai Shree Ram” over namaz

The post BHU students arrested for allegedly trying to burn Manusmriti remain in jail as advocates push for removal of false charges appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The 13 individuals—nine students and four alumni—are currently being held in District Jail, Chaukaghat. As they were shifted to jail, the students raised slogans like “Manusmriti Murdabad, Inquilab Zindabad, Jai Bhim,” and “Stop violence against students,” emphasizing their opposition to the state’s repression.

The jailed students were also interrogated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)

Background

On December 25, a discussion was organized by the Bhagat Singh Students Front at BHU on the occasion of Manusmriti Dahan Divas. The significance of this historic day lies in the fact that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had burned the Manusmriti on this day in 1927. Members of the Bhagat Singh Students Front had gathered to discuss this topic. During the discussion, the guards of the BHU Proctorial Board came and misbehaved with the students, dragging them to the Proctorial Board office. The students were locked up there around 7:30 PM. Later, on December 26, 2024, an FIR with serious charges was filed against 13 members of the BSM, and they were arrested and sent to 14-days of judicial custody.

As per report, during this incident, the students were physically assaulted, their clothes were torn, and their glasses were broken. Any student who came to help them was also pushed, shoved, and beaten. BHU guards and the Varanasi police threatened the students with various kinds of threats, including ruining their future and warnings of retaliation. All of this took place during the ‘Manusmriti Dahan Divas’ discussion held at the Arts Faculty, BHU.

It is alleged that the police and Proctorial Board members beat up the arrested students. They were kept locked in the Lanka police station overnight and were not allowed to meet their lawyers. Reports suggest that the students suffered serious injuries during this time. Their clothes were torn, and their glasses were broken. Students who went to the Proctorial Board for help were also detained after being pushed and assaulted.

FIR registered under the serious provisions of BNS, 2023

An FIR (No. 523/2024) has been filed by the Lanka Police Station against the 13 students under sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of their duty), 121(2) (causing grievous hurt to a public servant), 196(1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 190 (unlawful assembly for any offence committed by the group), 191(2) (rioting), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt to another person), and 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

According to the FIR, registered on the written complaint of BHU Security Officer Omprakash Tiwari and H.A. Zaidi, it states, “On 25.12.2024, at 5:30 pm, 20-25 students associated with Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha were sitting near the Arts Faculty Square and lighting a fire. Confidential information was received that these individuals were celebrating Manusmriti Dahan Diwas that day and planning to burn copies of Manusmriti. Acting on this information, I, Omprakash Tiwari, Security Officer, along with my colleagues Hasan Abbas Zaidi (Assistant Security Officer), Security Inspector Bhaiyalal, and Proctorial Board members Prof. Fate Bahadur Singh, Dr. Sujit Kumar Singh, Dr. Ajay Yadav, Dr. Amresh Singh, Dr. Upendra Kumar, Dr. Divya Bharti, Dr. Ravi Shankar Mishra, along with female security guards Shipra Mishra, Shikha Mishra, and other security personnel, reached the spot and attempted to pacify them. However, the following students misbehaved and pushed us. After this, I was warned that if we took any action against the rules, further action would be taken.”

“The following students did not heed the warning and started pushing and hitting me and other people present with me, obstructing the work of the public government, due to which two of my women security personnel Shipra Mishra and Shikha Mishra got seriously injured and fainted on the spot. They are being treated at BHU Trauma Center. Their actions are having an adverse effect on maintaining harmony. A total of 13 students have been identified in this incident” as per FIR.

The arrested students include Mukesh Kumar, Sandeep Jaiswal, Amar Sharma, Arvind Pal, Anupam Kumar, Lakshman Kumar, Avinash, Arvind, Shubham Kumar, Adarsh, Ipsita Agarwal, Siddhi Tiwari, and Katyayani B. Reddy. These students have been charged under the provisions, which carry a provision for up to 10 years of imprisonment.

The FIR dated 26.12.2024 can be read here

BSM said, suppression done at the behest of Brahmanical and Hindutva forces

The President of Bhagat Singh Students Front, Akanksha Azad, termed the action taken against the students as “suppression done at the behest of Brahmanical and Hindutva forces.” While dismissing the accusations against BSM, Akanksha said that, “We deny all the fabricated allegations raised against us by the university-police nexus. They want to crush dissent and our organization. In fact, they are suppressing every civil organization that questions this RSS fascist government” as the Observer Post Reported

She said, “We are the heirs of Baba Saheb and Bhagat Singh’s thoughts. Whatever efforts are made to suppress our voice, we will stand firm even stronger.”

Akanksha alleged that the BHU administration and police took this action under pressure from fascist forces. She stated, “Sending students to jail for discussing texts like Manusmriti is like mocking democracy. Manusmriti gives women and Dalits a status worse than that of animals, and such oppressive actions cannot crush their dreams and ideas.”

The Bhagat Singh Students Front has demanded the immediate release of the arrested students. They called for the false report to be annulled immediately and FIRs to be filed against the policemen and BHU guards who used violence against the students. The organization said, “Our courage and dreams cannot be suppressed. The arrest of students on Manusmriti Day has once again proven that freedom of expression is under threat. But the people of Banaras, who have always been a land of knowledge, dialogue, and ideas, will not remain silent against this injustice.”

Akanksha claimed that the students’ mobile phones were seized, and they were not allowed to inform their families, which is a clear violation of Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission directives. On December 26, the students were presented before the remand court and sent to jail. The FIR filed includes very serious charges. This incident not only violates the students’ rights but also openly disregards judicial processes and human rights.

FIR reveals no serious allegations against students, only ideological dissent

The FIR filed in connection with the December 25 incident at BHU highlights an ideological disagreement between the students and the administration, rather than any serious criminal behavior. The report indicates that students associated with Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha were peacefully engaged in a discussion to commemorate Manusmriti Dahan Divas. Following confidential information, police and security officers intervened, but the situation escalated into a minor physical altercation. The FIR does not point to any major criminal activity, with injuries to security personnel attributed to the scuffle.

While the FIR claims that the students’ actions impacted public harmony, it seems more like an effort to suppress student activism rather than address any serious offense. The students were charged under serious provisions, but the allegations appear inflated, raising concerns about attempts to silence dissent.

What is Manusmriti?

Manusmriti, often a topic of controversy, especially in the context of women and marginalized communities, is seen as a symbol of caste and gender discrimination in Indian society. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar famously burned it in 1927 as an act of protest. Manusmriti is an ancient Hindu religious text, consisting of 12 chapters and over 2,600 verses. It was first translated into English in 1776. Maharishi Manu, considered the author, is regarded as the spokesperson for the “human constitution” and the architect of societal norms. These laws, known as “Manuism,” laid down controversial rules regarding women’s rights and freedoms.

Controversial views on women

Manusmriti outlines a societal structure where women are seen as subordinate to their father, husband, or son, and can never be independent. In Chapter 5, Verse 148, it states that after marriage, a woman should remain under the protection of her husband or sons after his death. It further asserts that women have a nature to “seduce men” and should be kept under strict surveillance.

The text also contains statements such as, “Do not marry a woman with red hair or eyes, one with extra limbs, who is often ill, or one from a low caste.” It advises against marriage to a woman whose name refers to terror, rivers, trees, or snakes. Additionally, it says that Brahmins should not eat in the presence of menstruating women, pigs, dogs, or eunuchs.

These rules deny the equality and freedom of women and attempt to subjugate them under patriarchal control. The Manusmriti has long been a source of debate, and its controversial nature highlights the ongoing fight for equality and freedom in society.

Dr. Ambedkar’s protest against Manusmriti

Due to its oppressive views, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar burned the Manusmriti in 1927, condemning it as a text that violated the rights of Dalits and women. However, some still regard it as a guiding text for societal welfare, albeit ignoring its controversial aspects. Historian Kurundkar has provided insights into Manusmriti’s structure, explaining that the text was composed around 200-300 years before the birth of Christ. The first chapter covers topics like the creation of nature, the four yugas (ages), the four varnas (classes), and the greatness of Brahmins. Subsequent chapters address topics like celibacy, marriage, household duties, and various forms of punishment.

The fifth chapter, which is particularly controversial, discusses the duties of women, their purity, and their place in society. The book also covers the roles of saints, kings, criminal justice, and the praise of the Vedas in the final chapters.

Controversial aspects of Manusmriti

Dalit scholar Rajiv Lochan explains that Manusmriti discusses rights, crimes, justice, and punishment in a manner akin to the modern Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC). When the British arrived in India, they saw Manusmriti as the Hindu equivalent of Sharia law and began using it as a reference in legal matters. This led to the belief that Manusmriti was the Hindu “holy book.”

Lochan suggests that Brahmins, facing a decline in their power due to the rise of Buddhist teachings, revived Manusmriti to reassert their dominance. It propagated the myth that Brahmins were superior in society, while others faced harsher punishments. The text even asserts that a woman’s welfare can only be achieved through the welfare of a man, and that women should have no religious rights.

The British and Manusmriti’s influence

During British rule, Manusmriti became a subject of widespread discussion due to its use in legal matters. William Jones’ English translation of the text brought it into public knowledge. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule was one of the first to challenge Manusmriti, critiquing Brahmins and merchants while highlighting the dire conditions of Dalits and marginalized groups.

When Ambedkar burned the Manusmriti

On July 25, 1927, Dr. Ambedkar publicly burned Manusmriti at Mahad in Maharashtra. In his book Philosophy of Hinduism, Ambedkar writes, “Manu advocated the four-fold varna system, laying the foundation of caste-based discrimination. While Manu did not create the caste system, he certainly sowed its seeds.”

Ambedkar also recorded his opposition to Manusmriti in his works Who Were the Shudras? and The End of Caste. At that time, Dalits and women were denied the right to live a dignified life, and the caste system thrived on the Brahminical supremacy. Ambedkar described the caste system as a multi-story building with no stairs, where people are divided based on their work, and the lower castes are relegated to the bottom with no possibility of advancement.

The legacy of Ambedkar’s protest

After Ambedkar’s act of burning the Manusmriti, similar protests occurred across the country, leading to discussions in newspapers about the text’s influence on Indian society. Even after India’s independence, the debate continued. In 1970, Kanshi Ram formed BAMCEF, declaring that Indian society was divided between the “Manuwadi” (followers of Manu) and the “Mulnivasi” (indigenous people).

Related

Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill: Bogey of “urban naxals” invoked to legitimise clamping down of dissent?

A new hope: Student activists charged under UAPA get bail

Hate Unleashed: Protest erupts in Quantum University, students’ chant “Jai Shree Ram” over namaz

The post 13 BHU students arrested and interrogated by ATS over allegation of burning Manusmriti appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In #UttarPradesh‘s #Varanasi, a #Dalit student, resident of #Ahmedabad, #Gujarat, currently pursuing masters from #BHU, Varanasi was allegedly abused, assaulted and attempts of unnatural sex by pulling off his pant was made on him in the university hostel by two suspects on March… pic.twitter.com/kswRdrbbPP

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) April 1, 2024

On March 31, the written police complaint was filed at the Lanka Police Station in the said matter. As per the details of the incident provided in The Mooknayak, the said incident of physical and sexual abuse took place in Rajaram Hostel of BHU. The victim is enrolled in the MA course in Sociology.

The victim, while speaking to The Mooknayak, recounted the incident. He provided that the accused had forcefully grabbed him behind as there was a power outage in his room. As per the report, the victim stated “I am a student of MA Sociology. I hail from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. On Sunday night, around 02:45 a.m., there was a sudden power outage in one lobby of Rajaram Hostel, while the other lobby had electricity. I was studying in my room when suddenly the room plunged into darkness. Upon investigation, I found that the MCB had tripped. As I bent down to reset it, a student from the MPIMIR course grabbed me from behind.”

The victim further provided how he resisted the attempts made by the accused to remove the victim’s pants, as a result of which the accused smacked the victim’s head against the wall. Pursuant to the same, the victim fell. As per the victim, it was then that the accused tried to forcefully sodomize the victim. Upon facing resistance by the victim, the accused assaulted and abused him and even gave death threats.

“I somehow managed to escape, but he followed me into the room. He forcibly pulled down my pants while continuing to abuse me. When I resisted, he hit me with slaps and punches. He also snatched my phone and held me captive inside the room for an hour”, the victim stated while speaking to The Mooknayak.

Alerted by the cries of the victim, other students came to his rescue. Pursuant to the same, the hostel warden and the proctorial board were informed about the incident, as provided by the victim.

“The proctorial board team reached Rajaram Hostel and rescued me at 4 a.m. The warden and the proctorial board then took me to the trauma centre, where I received medical treatment.”

The victim has asserted that if adequate action is not taken in the said case, he will leave the campus. As per the report of The Mooknayak, the Victim provided that “I have filed a written complaint and am awaiting the filing of an FIR. If the FIR is not registered, I will leave the campus.”

Reaction of the police:

The police have assured that they will investigate the matter and take appropriate action. Speaking to The Mooknayak, Shivakant Mishra, the Station Officer of the Lanka police station, said, “This appears to be a case of physical assault. The police have interviewed the victim and other students at the hostel. The matter is under investigation.”

History of sexual violence cases at BHU:

In November of 2023, a case of alleged gang rape and sexual violence of a 20-year-old student was reported from the campus of Indian Institute of Technology- Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU). According to the complaint lodged by the victim on November 2, she was out with a friend on the IIT-BHU campus on the night of November 1 when the incident took place. The duo was near the Karman Baba temple when three men came there on a motorcycle and forcibly took her to a corner and gagged her after separating her from her friend. The three accused then stripped the victim, made a video of her and clicked photos. As per her complaint, she was let go after 15 minutes. The three accused took her phone number, the complaint stated. Based on the complaint, a FIR had been lodged. Later, on November 8, the survivor had recorded her statement before the magistrate and the police investigating officer, which resulted in charges pertaining to gang rape being added to the case. (For more details, read here and here) The survivor had also alleged that the incident had been carried out at gunpoint.

Notably, in January 2024, the state police had arrested the three accused. The three men arrested had been identified as Saksham Patel (aged 20) who had studied till class 10, Kunal Pandey (aged 28), who had studied till B. Com graduation course and ran a shop, and Abhishek Chauhan (aged 22), who failed his class 10 examination and worked at a saree shop. It is crucial to highlight here that at least two of the three men arrested are associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell in Varanasi.

In July 2023, two men were booked by the Varanasi police after a female student of BHU had alleged that she was sexually harassed and thrashed by a group of male students inside the BHU cyber library. As per her complaint, the group had also assaulted her on the route to the central library on the campus. As per the report of Times of India, in her complaint, the 28-year-student alleged that she was busy studying at the cyber library on Saturday afternoon when accused Saurabh Rai and his accomplices reached there and started misbehaving with her. Following this, she was forced to leave the library. As she left, Rai and his accomplices had chased her and subjected her to abuse. Notably, based on the complaint, the Lanka police had immediately lodged a FIR against the accused under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (outraging modesty of woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.

Prior to this, a similar sexual harassment incident had also taken place at the IIT-BHU campus in 2017 also which had resulted in massive protests. In the said incident, notably, the Varanasi police had filed charges of arson and other crimes against 1,200 protesting BHU students. In September 2017, a BHU student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus when she was returning to the Triveni Hostel. The student alleged that instead of raising the matter with university authorities, the hostel warden questioned her why she was returning so late. Hundreds of students sat on protest in the campus after this string of events in protest against lack of safety and alleged victim shaming. In reaction to the incident, the Vice Chancellor G C Tripathi had said “Boys will be boys. Forget about what happened. Why don’t you stop stepping out after 6 pm if you dislike such things? You are a girl, don’t try to become a boy (by stepping out after sunset).” Notably, the Varanasi police had filed charges of arson and other crimes against 1,200 protesting BHU students.

Not the first attack on Dalits in BHU:

In May 2023, a Dalit assistant professor at BHU had accused two other assistant professors and two students of assaulting, molesting and humiliating her. Notably, a first information report based on her complaint had been lodged in Varanasi on August 27, over three months after the incident allegedly occurred. The complainant had alleged that the police had filed a case only after she had written to the Human Resource and Development Ministry, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission, and the Chief Minister’s Office.

The complainant had provided then that a dispute had begun after she refused to remove a person from his post despite pressure from the accused persons. She alleged that the accused persons targeted her as she was a Dalit. According to the complaint, the accused persons “regularly talked about stripping her and making her do rounds of the university”. The assistant professor added that on May 22, one of the accused persons came to her chamber, threatened to have her removed from her post, and to kill her.

According to a report of Scroll, the police had filed a case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Notably, the accused had also been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Educational institutes and the culture of caste discrimination:

Atrocities against Dalit students, as has been highlighted in the present case at educational institutions, is not an isolated incident. Dalits have been marginalized for thousands of years and continue to be discriminated against, humiliated, and killed for petty reasons. Even after protests are held after such atrocities against Dalits come to light, the scenario remains the same.

In the month of March 2024 itself, Dalit academician Dr. Ritu Singh, a former assistant professor at the university’s Daulat Ram College was abruptly terminated in 2020. Had expressed her resolution to bring forth the culture of caste discrimination prevailing in colleges and universities of India. As per Singh, her dismissal stemmed from caste-based discrimination, accusing college principal Savita Roy of targeting her due to her Dalit identity. It is essential to note that Singh’s against the castiest structures in higher education system and administration has been ongoing since the last six months.

In October of 2023, several student-led protests had broken out across universities in Uttar Pradesh after University of Allahabad proctor Rakesh Singh was caught in a video launching a violent attack on student Vivek Kumar, who is from a Dalit community. In the video that had gone viral on social media, the accused, Rakesh Singh, can be seen snatching a lathi from a policeman and hitting the student while he raises slogans against the proctor. Kumar could be seen trying to shield himself but Singh had continued to hit him. The accused had only stooped when the policemen had intervened. Former MA student and All India Student Association (AISA) unit president Vivek Kumar had alleged that the said attack had stemmed from a place of discrimination and bias towards marginalised communities.

The video can be viewed here:

इलाहाबाद यूनिवर्सिटी में दलित छात्र विवेक कुमार ने “जातिवादी चीफ़ प्रॉक्टर मुर्दाबाद” का नारा लगाया तो चीफ़ प्रॉक्टर “राकेश सिंह” बिफर पड़े और पुलिस और सुरक्षा कर्मियों के सामने दलित छात्र पर लाठियां भांज दी, वीडियो सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल है #UttarPradesh #allahabaduniversity… pic.twitter.com/IyyiNtB1EN

— Dalit Times | दलित टाइम्स (@DalitTime) October 18, 2023

Related:

IIT-BHU gangrape: 3 accused arrested, at least 2 associated with BJP IT cell of Varanasi

Dalit academic alleges assault, molestation; FIR names 2 faculty, 2 students: BHU

Chennai: Dalit man hacked to death by in-laws due to caste

Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: 5 Dalit children beaten with sticks, with hands tied behind their back, for drinking water from a well

The post Sexual assault at BHU: Dalit student alleged abuse, assault and attempts of forced sex against another student in hostel appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim, she was out with a friend on the IIT-BHU campus on Wednesday night when the incident took place. The duo were near the Karman Baba temple when three men came there on a motorcycle and forcibly took her to a corner and gagged her after separating her from her friend. The three accused then stripped the victim, made a video of her and clicked photos. As per her complaint, she was let go after 15 minutes. The three accused took her phone number, the complaint stated.

As per the report of the New Indian Express, on the basis of the woman’s complaint, an FIR has been registered under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code and under provisions of the IT Act at Lanka police station. The police further asserted that efforts are being made to identify the three accused.

The students of IIT-BHU staged a massive protest against the aforementioned incident by gathering near IIT-BHU’s Rajputana Hostel. The students claimed that outside elements were involved in the incident and demanded that outsiders be banned from entering the campus. The students raised slogans demanding justice and a safer campus for women.

Stand in complete solidarity with the students of IIT BHU who are demanding punishment for the culprits who sexually harassed the students. Sexual harassment can’t be tolerated at any cost. All support needs to be extended to the survivors. pic.twitter.com/LfmRPmBhO4

— Aishe (ঐশী) (@aishe_ghosh) November 2, 2023

Protest against the management of @IITBHU_Varanasi for being unable to provide security to the students #iitbhuvaranasi #iitlackssecurity pic.twitter.com/1bub7WiTUw

— siddu_siddartha_roy (@kmsiddartha43) November 2, 2023

Despite ongoing calls for campus security enhancements, the director and chief proctor remain inactive. Last night, a student was assaulted on our campus. We, the students of IIT BHU, demand immediate action and increased security. #SafetyFirst #IITBHU pic.twitter.com/RdgPhldV8I

— Prashant Rao (@raoprashant61) November 2, 2023

A video by the Quint showed the students protesting and raising demands for action by the Director of BHU.

Massive protests broke out at the Indian Institute Of Technology (BHU) in Uttar Pradesh’s #Varanasi on 2 November after a student alleged that she was molested on campus by three unidentified men. pic.twitter.com/bmeMFZcO01

— The Quint (@TheQuint) November 2, 2023

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) to condemn the incident. She said “Are BHU campuses and even top institutions like IITs not safe now? Is it no longer possible for a girl student in the Prime Minister’s constituency to walk fearlessly inside her own educational institution?”

Her post can be accessed here:

बनारस में IIT, BHU की एक छात्रा पर यौन आक्रमण हुआ है। कुछ देर पहले, विश्वविद्यालय-परिसर में, उस छात्रा के साथ ज़ोर-ज़बर्दस्ती और दिल दहला देने वाली हिंसा की गयी है। निर्लज्ज हमलावरों ने घटना का वीडियो भी बना लिया है। घटना के विरुद्ध आईआईटी के छात्र प्रदर्शन कर रहे हैं।

क्या अब…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 2, 2023

Not the first incident of sexual violence against women at IIT-BHU

In July 2023, two men were booked by the Varanasi police after a female student of BHU had alleged that she was sexually harassed and thrashed by a group of male students inside the BHU cyber library. As per her complaint, the group had also assaulted her on the route to the central library on the campus. As per the report of Times of India, in her complaint, the 28-year-student alleged that she was busy studying at the cyber library on Saturday afternoon when accused Saurabh Rai and his accomplices reached there and started misbehaving with her. Following this, she was forced to leave the library. As she left, Rai and his accomplices had chased her and subjected her to abuse. Notably, based on the complaint, the Lanka police had immediately lodged a FIR against the accused under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (outraging modesty of woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.

Prior to this, a similar sexual harassment incident had also taken place at the IIT-BHU campus in 2017 also which had resulted in massive protests. In the said incident, Notably, the Varanasi police had filed charges of arson and other crimes against 1,200 protesting BHU students. In September 2017, a BHU student of the Arts Faculty was allegedly harassed by three motorcycle-borne men inside the campus when she was returning to the Triveni Hostel. The student alleged that instead of raising the matter with university authorities, the hostel warden questioned her why she was returning so late. Hundreds of students sat on protest in the campus after this string of events in protest against lack of safety and alleged victim shaming. In reaction to the incident, the Vice Chancellor G C Tripathi had said “Boys will be boys. Forget about what happened. Why don’t you stop stepping out after 6 pm if you dislike such things? You are a girl, don’t try to become a boy (by stepping out after sunset).” Notably, the Varanasi police had filed charges of arson and other crimes against 1,200 protesting BHU students.

Related:

Adivasi woman assaulted, stripped by men, BJP MLC’s wife book amongst 3 others

Jharkhand: Muslim woman set on fire over land dispute

Dalit woman allegedly murdered by Hindu husband in Madurai

Karnataka: Woman beaten, dragged out of temple, shows CCTV

The post IIT-BHU: Female student molested, abused and stripped by three bike-borne men inside campus appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The professor has alleged that although the incident took place on May 22, the police refused to lodge the case until August 27. The police said the case was lodged against the four accused — including two assistant professors — after a preliminary probe was conducted.

The complainant – a senior faculty member –  has also alleged that the accused, including the two colleagues from her department, “regularly talked about stripping her and making her do rounds of the university”.

“In continuation to this, on May 22 around 2 pm, one of them came to my chamber and said that he will get me removed from my post and kill me. I came out of my chamber and then the other accused shut the door of the department. One of the men held me and tried to do inappropriate things with me after tearing my clothes. The other one recorded it. The others kicked and punched me,” she said in her complaint to police. “Some people came after I shouted and rescued me. I am attaching CCTV footage along with this complaint.”

On Wednesday, August 30, she told The Indian Express, “I am being targeted because I am Dalit. The whole issue is over my refusal to remove someone from his post. They were putting pressure on me and I refused. Then they did this.”

“I lodged several complaints at the police station and to other officials concerned. The FIR was lodged only after I wrote to the HRD Ministry, SC and ST Commission, and the Chief Minister’s Office,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police Praveen Kumar Singh however, told the media, “The FIR was lodged after a preliminary probe as per CrPC provisions. The case is being investigated.”

Notably, the BHU Public Relations Officer Rajesh Singh said that action will be taken according to procedure. “The case is with the police now, so they will investigate. We will follow all procedures,” he told The Indian Express.

The BHU Vice-Chancellor Sudhir K Jain did not respond to calls and text messages for his response.

The FIR against the four was lodged under IPC Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and under various provisions of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Contradicting the complainant, when contacted, one of the accused assistant professors told The Indian Express: “The allegations are made up and baseless. She has lodged similar complaints against others too… She has her personal motives and that is why she is doing this. Had a proper probe been done before the FIR was lodged, it wouldn’t have reached this stage.”

Related:

Continued Surge of Violence against Dalits Spans Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu

One-year post order of the HC, family of Hathras victim yet to be given employment, awaiting relocation

Social Justice remains elusive 33 years after Mandal Movement

The post Dalit academic alleges assault, molestation; FIR names 2 faculty, 2 students: BHU appeared first on SabrangIndia.

New Delhi: The students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) held a demonstration against communalism and rising religious fundamentalism. On Wednesday, students and civil society members gathered at the university’s Lanka Gate to protest against the burning of a historic madrasa in Bihar and changes in the academic curriculum, shouting slogans like ‘Sadbhavana Zindabad,’ Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian Aapas mein hai bhai bhai’, ‘Long Live Secularism’.

Students, academics, intellectuals and civil society people in BHU have raised their voices from time to time against burning issues and ‘anti-people’ government policies. The students there have also been vocal about the anti-student policies of the university administration and some have even gone to jail while protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

At present, the protesting students angry about the proposed changes in NCERT textbooks. Officially, the reason for the changes is to reduce the burden of school bags from the shoulders of school children. Yet, many educationists and critics believe the recent changes are more of an attempt to push a certain ideology and politics.

Many people, including several writers, have spoken against changes in the syllabus of Hindi literature because the poems of Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ and Firaq Gorakhpuri.

Dhananjay Suggu, a former BHU student, who participated in the protest, told NewsClick that the burning of an ancient madrasa in Bihar resulted from “radical, subversive thinking that wanted to disturb religious harmony and mutual brotherhood in the country.”

“At present, the heinous conspiracy to snatch employment from the youth and make them rioters is a concern for the whole country. Such incidents are a blot on a civilised and democratic society and bring shame to humanity,” he added.

BJP ACCUSED OF SAFFRONISING COUNTRY

The protesters alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to saffronise the entire country. They noted how the youth was being embroiled in communalism so that it stays away from raising issues that concern them. Attacks against a particular community have increased, and new religious and caste tensions have arisen among people, the said.

The protesters demanded strict action against miscreants and an end to ‘tampering’ academic courses.

Aparajita, a BHU student, spoke about how the syllabus they all grew up reading had suddenly become controversial today.

“All of them know which agenda is being promoted through this and why. But we should not forget that despite millions of efforts, we cannot change our history; we can only change the present and future,” she said.

According to Aparajita, if the Mughal period disappears from the history of Medieval India, how will we know about Bahadur Shah Zafar, who was the leader of the 1857 revolution?

“If you don’t teach that era, how will you know great personalities like Surdas, Tulsidas, Kabir, and Ravidas? Similarly, if the texts by Nirala, Sumitranandan Pant and Firaq Gorakhpuri are removed, there will be a huge void in Hindi literature, which will not only be anti-education but also anti-knowledge and anti-national,” she added.

MUST PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION

Roshni, a PhD scholar at BHU, quoted a line by Heinrich Heine: “Wherever they burn books, in the end, they will also burn human beings.”

Recalling this line, she said, “On May 10, 1933, books were burnt in Germany. Hitler’s fans danced a lot by burning all the things related to logic, knowledge and intelligence. The great scientist Albert Einstein left Germany after this incident. Years later, today, when we see the burning of madrasas and libraries in Bihar, we should remember that terrible night in Germany.”

Roshni said further: “Along with our culture and heritage, we are also determined to protect our Constitution and its spirit.”

According to Dhananjay Tripathi, who was part of the protest, a Right-wing ideology prevails in the country today.

“Those people are burning libraries, killing people of other religions, thoughts and understanding. Like an ostrich, they deny the progress of civilisation recorded in history by burying their heads in the sand. They are reducing the lessons in the syllabus communally and irrationally. The Sangh Parivar is against scientific thinking and progressiveness, whereas the idea of India comprises all kinds of colours. We intend to protect the space for expression of disagreement. We will cherish it at any cost.”

Courtesy: Newsclick

The post BHU: Students, Civil Society Members Protest Changes in Syllabi, Rising Religious Extremism appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Outrage broke out among a section of netizens as news of the advertisement for a research fellowship on Manusmriti did the rounds? The Institution making this offering? Unfortunately, the once prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU)! BHU’s department of ‘Dharmashastra and Mimansa has put out an advertisement for a research fellowship on ‘Applicabilety of Manusmriti in Indian Society’ (sic). The selected candidate will get Rs 25,380 per month as stipend.

What is the Manusmriti?

Manusmriti, also called as Manav Dharma Shashtra, is an ancient Sanskrit law text supposed to have been composed in the early centuries of the first millennium. The text remains contested and reviled for its brazen endorsement of the caste system and women’s subjugation.

When asked if the fellowship amounts to endorsing the text, the department head Shankar Kumar Mishra told the media that since the Vedic tradition and rishis and munis have already endorsed it so there is no question of separately endorsing it. Mishra also disagreed that the law treatise sanctions caste and secondary status for women.

“A single word has multiple meanings. The word Hari can mean Lord Vishnu, monkey, frog or elephant. It depends on how you interpret it. It’s the same with these text. No religious work asks you to lie or behave badly. They all say help the weak, indulge in charity, take care of your family and so on,” he said.

Notably, Dr Br Ambedkar, who is known as the architect of India’s constitution, had burned Manusmriti in 1927 at a conference organised in Mahad, Maharashtra.

A resolution passed at the time read,

“Taking into consideration, the remarks in the Manusmriti and such other books which are most vulgar and which most flagrantly violate the human rights, this meeting condemns them emphatically and as an expression of that condemnation resolves to burn them.”

– Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Vol 17

Every year Ambedkarite groups mark this event by celebrating Manusmriti Dahan Divas on 25 December.

21^st Centory Irony 

“Applications are invited for the post of project fellow in the salary/stipend/fellowship/fixed/contractual of Rs 25,380 per month in a sponsored BHU IoE Scheme Initative Research Grant under Dev Scheme No-6031 entitled “Applicability of Manusmriti in Indian Society” sanctioned up to 31 March 2024,” read advertaisment by professor Shankar Kumar Mishra, head of Department of Dharmashatra & Mimansa.

The letter is dated on 17 February 2023.

The move has been critised on social media. “In new #India you are paid to study the “applicability of the Manusmriti on Indian society”! And then they try to appropriate Ambedkar….” said G Arunima, author and JNU professor.

“So now public universities are spending money to study the applicability of #ManuSmriti in Indian society. Hey Ram!” said a user.

“Casteism is alive and kicking in India under BJP. Next they might try to implement Manusmriti based Casteism in India under BJP,” read another tweet.

Related:

Row over BHU exam question on temple demolition

Right-wing attempts at targeting BHU iftar deflated!

The post Manusmriti fellowship? Join Benaras Hindu University (BHU)! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Varanasi: A controversy has erupted over a question in a recently held MA History exam in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here, where the students were asked to the name the book and author which mentions about ‘demolition of Adi Vishweshwar Temple by Aurangzeb’.

The question was asked at a time when the case regarding the Gyanvapi mosque – Adi Vishweshwar temple dispute is still in court.

The question has started a new row where protestors, mainly students, claim that the question is biased towards the Hindu-side in the dispute.

The question was put up in the MA History exam.

The present-day Gyanvapi mosque was allegedly the same site as Adi Vishweshwar temple devoted to the Hindu deity Shiva. These claims, however, are from Hinduism followers, and those following the Muslim religion debate the claim.

In 1991, local priests filed a petition seeking permission to worship in the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Over the years, several petitions have been filed claiming that the mosque was built by demolishing parts of the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The matter is presently in court.

Courtesy: The Daily Siasat

The post Row over BHU exam question on temple demolition appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) students ended their indefinite strike in front of the Vice Chancellor’s (VC) residence on December 11, 2020 after the official agreed to open a central library and cyber library for 300 students from Monday. A city delegation will also be opened for 50 students.

Students, who held a week-long protest against the closure of campus due to coronavirus pandemic, said the administration agreed to open hostels in January 2021, following end-of-semester examinations. Further, the VC also told them that all academic activities will be conducted without ‘no-dues’ as per the guidelines of the Government of India and University Grants Commission.

Nonetheless, students also complained that one of the agitating students was injured during a scuffle with security personnel outside the VC’s house on December 10. They claimed the university administration resorted to police assistance to stop students’ dharna. Students Sumit, Kundan, Shubham, Gopi, Santosh, Nitish, Pallava, Subodh, claimed the university administration had treated them like terrorists. They presented a video where one of the security persons abused a student.

However, Chief Proctor O.P. Rai categorically denied any form of abuse on students.

Meanwhile, the BHU plans to introduce a new two-year postgraduate course on ‘Kashi Study’ from July 2021. The course will allow students to understand the mystique of the heritage city.

“This will teach them about the city which is one of the oldest in the world and is a symbol of life, and used to be known for its streets. The religious culture, musical tradition and sculpture art of Kashi always attracts and mesmerizes the world,” said the government in a public statement.

Related:

IIT entrance exams amidst Covid-19?

University Campus or Cantonment?

Varuna Shastri Bridge now the only place of protest in Varanasi: DM

Is Varanasi being stifled under Section 144?

The post BHU administration agrees to open central library, students prevail! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
Varanasi: It would seem that the administration of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has conspired to derail the careers of students who organized a protest against the sexual harassment of a student on campus.
 
Three months ago, BHU barred 11 students from taking admissions in future courses. These students had participated in a protest last year against the molestation of a student.
 
The 11 debarred students include three girls, out of which two have now joined Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Shivangi Chaubey, a 21-year-old girl from Bihar’s Buxar, who successfully cleared the entrance exam for MA in linguistics at BHU, has now joined DU for the same course. Saumya Pandey, 18, a Varanasi girl, quit BA (Chinese) to join JNU. Other nine students are continuing their Master’s course but won’t be able to take re-admission.
 
“An inquiry report by the standing committee of BHU on July 24 this year served orders on these students while invoking provisions of ordinances from BHU’s calendar and charging them with the acts of vandalism, assault, dharna and protest on May 2, this year,” Times of India reported.
 
The May 2 incident was a showdown between students and chief proctor Royona Singh after she made snide remarks on the September 2017 protest, calling it a sponsored event where pizzas and colas were distributed. The students have been demanding that GCASH (Gender sensitization against sexual harassment committee) be set up in the university and the ban on female hostel timings and non-veg food be lifted.
 
An FIR was lodged against the students for attempting to murder Singh. Singh had made that complaint which was supported by university staff. The Varanasi police did not find any credible evidence and dropped the names of 10 students from the final chargesheet filed in September 2018.
 
“Shame on Royana Singh and other BHU administrative officials who conspire to shut progressive voices in the University by putting fake and serious criminal charges against their own students. Well, truth prevails, but what about the loss that has been done? What about the opportunities we have missed? What about the social defamation because of all the news headlines and the notices/letters/mails to our parents? And I AM STILL DEBARRED. WE ARE STILL DEBARRED. What about it? Is the administration going to get away with it? Playing with our lives and careers? Well, SHAME ON BHU ADMINISTRATION!” wrote Shivangi Choubey on her Facebook timeline.
 
A BHU student Facebook page also remarked about how the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief Proctor were attacking the students and creating false cases against them to derail their careers.
 

 
Read Also:
IIT-BHU students act against disciplinary notice by the administration
A year after protests, BHU’s female students recount how their lives changed for better or worse
BHU: Twelve students booked under murder charges for protesting against university’s Proctor
 

The post BHU debars 11 protesting students from future courses appeared first on SabrangIndia.