'Guards didn't take action', alleges BHU molestation victim

According to the FIR, the incident took place at 6:20 pm on Sep 21, the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit.

In the FIR, lodged a day later, the girl alleged, "I was passing by Bharat Kala Bhawan at 6.20 pm. I was wearing salwar suit. Suddenly, two motorcycle-borne youth came and inserted their hands inside my suit. They then sped away. Due to fading light, I could not recognise the registration numbers."

She further added, "While I was almost unconscious and weeping, my friends, approached guards but their reaction was strange. They made sarcastic remarks on why we move outside after 6 pm. This even as the incident took place hardly 10 metres away from where the guards stood."

The complaint also read that while a male student described the assailants by the colour of the t-shirts they were wearing, the security guards didn't pay heed.

The incident has caused a widespread outrage on the campus, with several students staging a demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor's house.

The BHU on its part said in an official statement that the protests were politically motivated, to malign the image of the university during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

Students have also taken a swipe at the state government, questioning the effectiveness of its anti-Romeo squad.

A student was quoted as saying by the Times of India, "When this government came, we were happy that it wants to eliminate stalkers who have become tormentors of many of us in the past. But here we realise, that neither the guards, nor the police, even the SSP has done anything since last six months to even frisk men at BHU if they are consuming liquor or moving around with weapons. Had their anti-Romeo force been working, we wouldn't have to face this situation."

The situation has forced the university to advance the holiday dates, from Sep 28 to Sep 25.

Classes will resume from Oct 3.

Image: twitter.com/MyFellowIndians