BHU PhD student’s ‘suspicious’ death leads to protest on campus

The death of a research scholar on campus at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, has led to protests. Nazuk Bhasin, pursuing a PhD in sustainable development, died in New PhD Girls Hostel very early morning on Saturday, July 12.

While the BHU administration has refused to comment on the cause of death, students suspect it was food poisoning caused by the hostel’s meals but are not sure. However, they allege that the death happened due to lack of proper treatment by medical staff on campus.

A candle march was organised by the Bhagat Singh Student Morcha on campus on Sunday. “We are not sure the reason for the death but it seems like medical staff in the campus hospital did not treat her well,” alleged a student from the campus, requesting anonymity. The reason for her death is still not clear, according to students, but Bhasin had been ill for three days prior to her death.

The students’ group said in a statement, “A student of New PhD Girls Hostel, BHU, Nazuk Bhasin, died under suspicious circumstances. The BHU administration was negligent in this death and now this issue is being completely suppressed. When the post-mortem report of that student was demanded from them, the BHU administration tried to deviate from the issue.”

The march, from the hostel to BHU’s main Lanka Gate, had about 70-80 participants, the group said.

A university official, also requesting anonymity, stated that the institute is monitoring the situation. “This is a crucial case. The deceased student’s family is in touch with the administration. There are several processes to come up with a statement.”

BHU: Series of protests

Students allege that many residents of the same hostel have been unwell for several days due to the poor quality of food in the hostel mess.

“The deceased student has been sick since July 8,” said a student from the campus. “Despite being sick for many days, the hospital medical staff were just giving her saline but not “proper treatment”. She was finally admitted on the evening of July 11 after her health got worse and she died in the early hours of July 12.” She added that students had protested against the bad quality of food in the hostel even in 2023.

Bhasin’s death led to immediate protest, first at the Sir Sundarlal Hospital where she died. “We are not sure about the exact reason for death but we are sure that something went wrong in treatment. If she had received timely treatment, she wouldn't have died,” said a student.

“We were told that Dr KK Gupta from BHU’s medical centre treated her last but he has denied this,” said a student. They now demand a post-mortem and a “fair investigation” into the death.