BHU students go berserk

Several students, faculty members and policemen were injured as students of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) at Varanasi went on the rampage on Thursday demanding immediate polls for the students’ union.

Police did a lathicharge and fired rubber bullets as students assaulted faculty members and forced closure of academic departments, besides blocking entry into the varsity premises by locking the main gate in Lanka area of the town.

Several vehicles were torched by the students, who also reportedly roughed up the acting vice chancellor of the varsity.

The trouble sparked off after the VC rejected the demand for holding student union polls and instead decided to hold the polls for the ‘Chatra Parishad’ (students’ council). The students claimed that the Parishad would not be able to function independently as its control would be in the hands of the varsity administration.

Two students were arrested in connection with the violence. Police reportedly chased the students into the hostels and also did not spare the faculty members.

According to reports, one student identified as Shivam Tripathi was hit by a bullet and was admitted to the hospital. BHU chief proctor Prof A K Joshi has resigned in protest against the violence.

Tension prevailed in the sprawling campus of the varsity and security personnel in strength had been deployed to maintain order. Senior officials are camping there to monitor the situation.

The BHU students had also gheraoed Union HRD minister Smriti Irani when she visited the varsity a few days back to press their demand for polls to the student union.