Female student of IIT-BHU “Forcibly kissed, stripped & videotaped” by three men on campus; students demand security

A distressing incident has recently come to light from a prestigious educational institution, sending shockwaves throughout the nation. At IIT-BHU, a female student was subjected to a horrifying ordeal where she was forcibly kissed, undressed, and paraded by her assailants, who shamefully recorded the incident on campus, all while in the presence of one of the victim’s male friends. This heinous act has sparked widespread protests on campus, with students demanding improved security measures.

A formal complaint has been filed in this case, though as of now, no arrests have been made. The incident has been documented with (FIR number–445/2023), registered at the Lanka police station in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh on November 2.

According to the victim’s account, a student of IIT BHU, she and a male friend were taking a walk on the campus around 1:30 am when three individuals on a motorcycle ambushed them from behind. The assailants forcibly separated them and dragged the victim to an isolated location.

In her own words, she recounted, “They forcefully covered my mouth, kissed me, stripped me of my clothes, and took pictures and videos. When I screamed for help, they threatened to harm me and eventually left.”

The victim hurried back to her hostel, but a motorcycle pursued her. She sought refuge in the professors’ quarters, where she was then escorted to a security official for assistance.

In response to the student’s complaint, a case has been registered at the Lanka police station in Varanasi under Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to a woman), 504 of IPC (Punishment for criminal intimidation), and 66 of the IIT Act.

Organiser tried calling the victim but her phone was switched off.

Massive protests organised in campus

In response to the incident, students took to the campus on November 2, to voice their protest. They asserted that outsiders had been causing disturbances on the premises for a prolonged period, with female students frequently subjected to harassment. Their demands included a prohibition on outsider entry and they voiced their discontent against the director of IIT-BHU through chants and placards.

Brandishing banners and posters directed at the authorities, students gathered outside the Rajputana hostel to express their concerns regarding campus security.

Students of IIT-BHU staging protest against the sexual harassment in the campus raise slogan of “We want justice”. A girl student was sexually harassed by three men in the campus last night. pic.twitter.com/ogwaR6eZn0

— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) November 2, 2023 

What the police told the organiser?

Organiser also called the investigating officer, Sahajanand, on November 3, who assured that specialised teams have been assembled to pursue the culprits. Since the victim did not provide names, efforts are underway to scrutinize CCTV footage from the vicinity and identify the individuals involved. Once the suspects are positively identified, the police will proceed with their arrests.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Praveen Singh, stated that endeavours are being made to address the concerns of the students. He confirmed that the perpetrators are being tracked down with the assistance of CCTV footage, and their apprehension is imminent.

Simultaneously, in this entire incident, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has requested a detailed report from Police Commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain. The Police Commissioner, in turn, has delegated this responsibility to SHO Lanka, Ashwini Pandey. Furthermore, the PMO diligently collected updates throughout November 2. Additionally, Chief Minister Yogi communicated with Commissioner Kaushal Raj Sharma and the Police Commissioner via phone. He emphasised the necessity of engaging with the IIT administration and implementing stringent security measures for the students.

ABVP demands security for students

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) are actively demonstrating in BHU, rallying outside the central office. Their rallying cry calls for justice for the affected student. Simultaneously, there is resistance against the proposed construction of a wall dividing IIT and BHU. Student representative Abhay Singh voiced that the incident occurred due to administrative negligence and a lack of prioritisation for security. ABVP students have articulated four key demands:

1. Implement high-quality CCTV cameras at all pivotal points within the BHU campus.
2. Reinstate and increase the number of security personnel on campus, which had previously been reduced.
3. Restrict the entry of disruptive individuals from outside the campus during evening hours.
4. Disapprove the proposal to erect a dividing wall within the campus.

Here are some of the changes the administration will be implementing after this incident:

• The Proctor office will be staffed with a Sub Inspector and a team of four police officers.
• To ensure security, barricades will be installed, restricting movement between 10 pm and 5 am.
• A designated green zone will be established, with further details of the upcoming changes yet to be finalised.
• A comprehensive monitoring system, in collaboration with local authorities, is in the pipeline.
• Retired military security personnel will be deployed at sensitive locations for added security.
• Key routes connecting BHU and IIT-BHU, such as Agriculture Farm and Hyderabad Gate, will be assessed for security measures.
• Continuous 24×7 vigilance will be maintained at all seven campus gates by district police and institute personnel.
• The institute will collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education and the university administration to develop a secure closed-campus environment.

Previous cases of harassment reported in the institute

It’s important for readers to be aware that this recent incident of harassment at IIT-BHU is not an isolated occurrence. In 2023 alone, there have been six reported cases of molestation and harassment on campus. The incidents are detailed below:

1. On January 25, 2023, a student from the social science department was accosted by a fellow student named Asim Kumar outside the old-B1 hostel while on her way to class. A complaint was filed, leading to the arrest of the accused, though he was subsequently released on bail.
2. On January 24, 2023, another case of molestation transpired at the Cyber library within the campus. A female was reportedly assaulted and harassed. Based on her complaint, an FIR was lodged against Sourabh Rai and three others.
3. On January 13, 2023, a female student from IIT-BHU was subjected to molestation by an individual near the Hyderabad gate of the college.
4. On January 4, 2023, a female student returning to her hostel around 8 pm was confronted and harassed by male students. When she protested, they allegedly physically assaulted her.
5. On October 18, 2023, a female research scholar was molested by four men near her hostel within the campus. Subsequently, female students reported the incident to the proctorial board, leading to the filing of an FIR against the four perpetrators at Lanka police station. All were apprehended.
6. On August 28, 2022, a final year undergraduate student fell victim to molestation by two men within the campus. Members of the proctorial board intervened and rescued her, leading to the filing of a case against the two assailants.