IIT BHU to construct wall to separate it from rest of Banaras Hindu University

NEW DELHI: On Thursday, after day-long protests by hundreds of students at Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU), the administration agreed to the demands of the students for a “construction of a boundary wall for the institute campus”.

In an email sent out by the registrar at around 9 pm at night and accessed by Careers360, a joint committee will be set-up for surveying the campus for the boundary wall. This will separate the IIT campus from the rest of Banaras Hindu University.

The students protested against the molestation of a girl student, allegedly by three unidentified men on campus very early on Thursday morning.

The statement was issued by the registrar after Pramod Kumar Jain, director, IIT BHU called a student parliament meeting at the Student Gymkhana at around 4 pm in the afternoon. The boundary wall is part of a host of measures some of which will restrict student movement on campus from 10 pm till 5 am, have greater police presence and surveillance via close-circuit television networks (CCTV).

According to reports, a FIR has been lodged at Lanka police station of Varanasi against the three unidentified men.

Hundreds of students protested against the alleged molestation of a girl student on campus. (Image Source: Special Arrangement)

IIT BHU: Restricted movement, wall

Students demanded a “closed campus” and the construction of a boundary wall. After a few student representatives met the director at the Gymkhana, the registrar issued a statement.

“The director constantly tried to convince a group of student parliament representatives to break the protest. However, a few girl students came forward and spoke against the constant eve-teasing on campus by people from outside and the horrifying incident on Thursday. The director needs to answer our demands and take strict action,” a student told Careers360 asking not to be named.

IIT-BHU Director called students for meeting at Gymkhana.

When students questioned he ran away. #IITBHU pic.twitter.com/es3XUx5ECS

— BHU BUZZ (@BhuBuzz) November 2, 2023

An hour later, students received an email from the registrar highlighting the steps that will be taken. The steps include restricted movement from 10 pm to 5 am and barricades at specific locations; creation of a green zone; installation of CCTV cameras and surveillance with the support of local administration; deployment of security guards at sensitive places; monitoring of the institute 24x7 by the district police and institute personnels at all institute gates; positioning of one sub-inspector at chief proctor’s office of the campus, among others. .

IIT BHU Director is trying to break students protest by pressurising Student Parliament members.

Students are protesting against sexual assault with a female student. Thousands of students are still protesting and demanding Director to come out. #IITBHU pic.twitter.com/DUm2d8qetZ

— BHU BUZZ (@BhuBuzz) November 2, 2023

But despite this, many students did not end the protest because they demanded a closed campus with a boundary wall between IIT BHU and BHU campus. Eventually at 9 pm another statement came promising a boundary wall and the protest ended.