BHU shame continues: MA student alleges molestation, assault on campus

Almost a fortnight since the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus witnessed scenes of violence and unrest over an alleged sexual harassment incident , an M.A. student has alleged that she was molested and thrashed on the premises.

The accused student has been arrested in this connection and a case registered against him under Sections 354 B, 504, 506 and 323 of the IPC.

The victim was pursuing her M.A. in social work. She first took up the matter with proctor, following which the complaint was lodged with the Lanka police station.

According to the complaint lodged by the girl, the accused first snatched her phone and then pulled her hair. When she went inside the class, the accused followed her inside, slapped her and molested her.

The attacker, identified as Sheetla Sharan Gaur, is also a BHU student and has been arrested.

Varanasi: Girl files complaint of assault against a fellow BHU classmate. FIR registered, accused arrested. pic.twitter.com/qmiG4hfvtX- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 5, 2017

SATYARTHI CONDEMNS VIOLENCE ON BHU CAMPUS

Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize winner today condemned the recent clashes on the BHU campus and asked students to be wary of attempts to divide them for "petty electoral goals".

He also appreciated the girl student, who was molested almost a fortnight ago, for displaying the courage to speak up against her tormentors and filing the complaint against them.

"I am deeply pained by whatever happened in BHU. I want to say that the girl, who was molested, is a courageous Indian girl who represents the voice of India. She has broken her silence and filed the complaint, so I definitely applaud her courage", he said.

Satyarthi added, "The way some staff members, watchmen and security guards treated her is objectionable and unacceptable, which again shows the age-old mindsets that the victim could be stigmatised and blamed, instead of taking stringent action against those who were responsible for molestation", he said over the phone from his home district of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.

A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathicharge by the police in BHU where a protest on September 23 against an alleged eve-teasing turned violent. The violence erupted after some students, protesting against the eve-teasing of a woman two days earlier, wanted to meet the varsity's vice-chancellor at his residence, but were denied entry.

Satyarthi said, "Violence in any form by anyone has to be opposed and that should not be used as a weapon by the youth and students anywhere. I strongly condemn any form of violence. I very well understand the anger of the young people but that should not degenerate into violence or give anyone an opportunity to indulge in divisive politics."

"Most of the times, politics divides youths and university students for petty electoral goals. So I would like to make an appeal to the youth to remain united and make their college and university campus safe, which is only possible by working in a non-violent manner", he added.

He also called for measures such as gender sensitisation training to make university and college campuses safe for students, particularly women.

Satyarthi is on a nationwide march - 'Bharat Yatra' - against sexual abuses, molestation and rape.

A 'Bharat Yatra' was taken out in Varanasi today. Satyarthi took part on a similar march in Vidisha. He said the march was a war against the "moral epidemic of child sexual abuse, trafficking and rape".

"This epidemic is rising because of our rotten, age-old mindsets. Our girls are taught to keep mum. They are told that their dignity is lost, honour is lost, family honour is lost and so the victims are stigmatised. They are blamed, while the perpetrators remain fearless and free", he added.

(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)

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