Violence exploded late Tuesday night at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi between students and security forces which soon escalated into students reportedly pelting stones at the forces.
According to media sources, the skirmish happened when Birla Hostel students clashed with Proctorial Board and security personnel reportedly after a student’s vehicle damage near Rajaram Hostel sparked an argument at the Chief Proctor’s Office, escalating to stone-pelting, stick attacks, and vandalism of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam event materials.
Students allege assault by proctors, while security claims provocation; several injured on both sides including police, prompting heavy deployment of forces from multiple stations and PAC, with two students detained and situation now stable. BHU’s IIT Director Professor Amit Patra promised probes and security upgrades amid protests outside key offices.
What Triggered BHU Confrontations?
The unrest began around midnight reportedly when a Birla Hostel student’s bike collided with another vehicle near Rajaram Mohan Roy Hostel, fuelling outrage as a group marched to the Chief Proctor’s Office to file a complaint.
Staff tensions boiled into shouts, drawing reinforcements from Birla Hostel armed with sticks and iron rods who targeted security guards. Chaos spread with students smashing flower pots, tearing down posters and banners for the upcoming Kashi-Tamil Sangamam cultural event on Wednesday, and damaging parked vehicles across campus.
Fierce Confrontations Unfold
More hostellers joined, reportedly pelting stones at personnel and staging a sit-in outside the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and IIT Director’s Office, where Professor Amit Patra met protesters at 4am.
He assured swift action on demands for medical aid to injured students, identification of early morning attackers, enhanced campus security, and investigations into proctorial conduct.
Security responded with lathis after facing brickbats, turning the site into hours-long skirmishes resembling guerrilla warfare, with dozens of students, guards, and officers nursing wounds treated at trauma centres.
Police Crackdown and Control
Alerted authorities rushed in forces from various stations and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), deploying a massive contingent to pacify the fury.
An ACP confirmed normalcy restored, though two agitators remain in custody. The campus now bristles with heavy security to prevent recurrences, especially with the Sangamam event looming, as BHU administration works to restore order post the midnight melee.
Wider Implications Surface
This flare-up highlights simmering frictions between students and oversight bodies, amplified by the event’s timing disrupting cultural preparations meant to foster regional ties.
Reports note “Factorial security” involvement, likely referring to proctorial teams, underscoring coordination lapses in vast campuses housing thousands. Injured parties from all sides await justice, with calls for dialogue to heal divides before minor sparks ignite major battles.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Such campus battles scar more than bodies; they fracture trust essential for growth, urging all sides to choose words over weapons and ears over egos. BHU can lead by instituting regular grievance forums, blending discipline with compassion to safeguard learning havens and events like Sangamam that unite cultures.
