IIT BHU: Hundreds protest after alleged molestation on campus

NEW DELHI: The campus of Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU) in Varanasi has erupted in protest after a second-year BTech student alleged she had been molested on campus very early on Thursday morning. Since Thursday morning, hundreds of student have been protesting near the director’s office on the IIT BHU campus ; they demand serious action against the perpetrators.

Three men on a bullet ambushed an IIT BHU student walking with her male friend in BHU campus, Varanasi. The men forcibly kissed the girl student, undressed and recorded her. She was held captive for 10-15 minutes. Hundreds of students of IIT BHU are now staging protest. pic.twitter.com/UVqTlHhAYc

— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) November 2, 2023

According to the Indian Express, the female student in her complaint said: “I am a resident of a hostel at IIT-BHU. On November 2 around 1.30 am, I left my hostel for a walk. I met a male friend. We were walking together, and a motorcycle approached us from behind with three men. They parked their motorcycle and separated my friend and me. They shut my mouth tightly and took me to a corner, kissed me forcibly, took off all my clothes, and recorded photos and videos. When I shouted for help, they threatened to kill me. They let me go after 10-15 minutes. When I ran towards my hostel, I heard the sound of the motorcycle. Then, I hid at the residence of a professor, who took me to the security officials.”

Students protesting at IIT BHU demand a closed campus (Image Source: Technex, IIT BHU Official Twitter)

IIT BHU: Demand for probe

“Students are demanding a serious probe into the case and strict action towards the safety of students on campus,” a protesting student told Careers360. They went on to allege that students routing face harassment in the form of eve teasing with “no attention from the administration”.

“But this incident is extremely big. Nothing of this sort has happened before. Students are demanding a safe and a close campus,” he added, asking not to be named.

The Students' Parliament, an organisation of students at the institute said they are also planning a mass movement against the incident from 10 am tomorrow which will include boycotting all academic activities. They demanded closed campus, restricted entry, CCTV surveillance, and immediate action on such incidents.

IIT BHU students plan mass movement against sexual harassment incident

Priyanka Gandhi also condemned the incident through a post on the X (formerly Twitter). 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.”

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

According to reports, a police case has been lodged against the three unidentified men. But no one has been arrested till now.

Thousands of students are protesting in IIT-BHU after horrendous midnight sexual assault and molestation incident with a female student.

Police has not yet arrested any accused involved in this incident.

Students are demanding Justice. #IITBHU pic.twitter.com/BfMwIiIxZf

— BHU BUZZ (@BhuBuzz) November 2, 2023