2023 protest against gang rape: 13 BHU students suspended for ‘indiscipline’

Thirteen Banaras Hindu University students have been suspended for 15 to 30 days for “indiscipline” and “disruption of the academic environment” during a protest against the gang rape of a student last year at the IIT university campus.

Among those suspended by the university are members of various student organizations.

Following the incident of November 1, 2023, hundreds of BHU Students gathered on campus to protest and demanded that the administration ban the entry of outsiders.

Anupam Kumar of the Bhagat Singh Student Front said, “Our members were peacefully protesting at the Lanka Gate of the university when they were attacked by ABVP (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) members which aggravated the situation.”

Later, the university administration registered a case against the protesting students and formed a standing committee to investigate the incident.

On Wednesday, Chandra Shekhar, deputy media relations officer of the university, said: “The suspension of the students for a period of 15 to 30 days has been authorized based on the findings of the standing committee. They will not be allowed to enter to the university facilities. during the suspension period.”

The university administration cited “indiscipline” and “disruption of the academic environment” as reasons for the suspensions.

Rajiv Nayan, BHU unit president of another student group, said he and three other students of his group have been suspended.

The suspensions have sparked outrage among student activists, with many criticizing the administration for disproportionate punishments and lack of support for survivors of sexual violence.

The complainant in the gangrape case had claimed that she had left her hostel with a friend on the night of November 1. They were near the Karman Baba temple when three men came on a motorcycle, forcibly took her to a corner and gagged her. she had alleged after separating her from her friend.

The defendant then allegedly stripped the woman, recorded a video of her and took photographs. They let her go after about 15 minutes and took away her phone number, the complainant stated.

Based on the complaint, an FIR under Section 354 of the IPC (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and under the provisions of the Information Technology Act was registered at the police station of Lanka.

Later, the charge of gang rape was added to the FIR, police said. Three people, Kunal Pandey, Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan and Saksham Patel, were arrested in the case.

Opposition parties attacked the Yogi Adityanath-led government over the law and order situation in the state and alleged that those arrested in the case have links with the ruling BJP.