Women, queer, trans activists and feminist organizations has strongly condemned the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) administration for suspending students who led the protests against a gang rape that took place on the university campus last year.
Groundxero | October 8, 2024
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) administration has suspended for 30 days, 13 students who led the protests against a gang rape that took place on the university campus last year. Women, queer, trans activists and feminist organizations has strongly condemned this shocking step by the BHU administration and demanded its immediate withdrawal. In a press note they said that instead of honouring students who raise their voice against crimes like rape, taking action against them exhibits the fascist, patriarchal mindset of the BHU administration.
A woman student had gone on a walk with a friend near her hostel inside the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT- BHU) campus when three persons allegedly disrobed her and recorded a video at gunpoint on November 2, 2023. It was because of the protests organised by these students that nearly two months after the incident, the three accused, who were linked with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as IT cell workers, identified as Kunal Pandey, Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan and Saksham Patel, were arrested by the Varanasi police in December 2023. After the woman student identified them, section of gang rape was also added to sections filed against them. But on September 1, last month, two of the three accused in the gangrape case were released on bail.
After this bail, the students protested again, accusing the BHU administration of protecting them by not presenting solid evidence against the accused. About a month later, suspension notice was handed over to the protesting students. The suspensions were officially attributed to “indiscipline” and “disruption of the academic environment” by the BHU administration.
The activists said that the move to punish the student protestors exposes the intention of the BHU university administration – to protect the accused of the gang rape with impunity as they they are members of the ruling party.
The Press Release is attached below.
PRESS RELEASE
BHU administration must withdraw the suspension of students who protested against gangrape!
The Chancellor should immediately take cognizance of the matter!
In an alarming decision, the Banaras Hindu University administration, in an order dated September 26, 2024, has suspended for 30 days, 13 students who led the protests against the gang rape that took place on the university campus last year. Due to the pressure of these protests, three accused associated with BJP were arrested after two months. We, feminist activists across the country, strongly condemn this action taken by the BHU administration and demand immediate withdrawal of this notice. Instead of honoring students who raise their voice against crimes like rape while pursuing their studies, taking action against them exhibits the fascist, patriarchal mindset of the BHU administration, which is extremely damaging for the image of an educational institution.
We remember that last year on the night of 1st December 2023, a girl was gang raped by 3 boys in the IIT campus of BHU. The survivor girl and her friends showed courage and lodged an FIR in the police station, but the police tried to dilute the case by registering it under minor sections, because the cameras installed in the premises showed that the accused were associated with the IT cell of BJP, And after the incident, they went to Madhya Pradesh to join BJP’s election campaign. From the very next day, a large number of students started protesting in the IIT campus. Due to non-arrest of the accused, the protest spilled out of the IIT campus and reached the main gate of BHU, in which Bhagat Singh Student Morcha, AISA, Disha NSUI organizations were active participants. Even at that time, the university administration took blatant action against the protesting students. When the protest continued, they wanted to disrupt the movement with help of ABVP which was reported in newspapers. ABVP people attacked and beat up agitating students. When students went to police station to lodge an FIR against the ABVP people, it was dismissed. And it has not been registered till date, even though an appeal was made in the court for the same. On the other hand, a false FIR was immediately registered against the students of attacking ABVP, under serious sections. On the basis of this, the disciplinary committee of the university conducted an investigation and gave its decision, calling the 13 students who led the movement as “serial offenders”. They were suspended from the premises for 15 to 30 days. Along with this, BHU administration has decided to counsel them and punish them for community service. Obviously, they will be told that they should only study, should not engage in student politics and should remain silent on social issues.
It is also noteworthy here that due to these student movements, three BJP men accused of gang rape were arrested after two months. After the girl identified them, section of gang rape was also added to sections filed against them. But last month they were released on bail. After this bail, most of the students protested again, accusing the BHU administration of protecting them by not presenting solid evidence against the accused. About a month later, suspension notice was handed over to the protesting students. All this exposes the intention of the university administration – to protect the accused of the gang rape with impunity. In all cases they are members of the ruling party.
The patriarchal and right- wing mentality of the BHU administration was also exposed in 2017, when on the complaint of a girl who was a victim of sexual violence on campus, the administration asked objectionable questions. In protest against this, BHU girls came out at night and sat at the gate. In this case also the BHU administration had stood against the girls. This shows their anti-women, feudal, Brahminical, patriarchal mentality. This is highly condemnable in a premier Central University like BHU.
We strongly condemn the action and demand its immediate withdrawal.
If this suspension is not withdrawn, it will have a negative impact on those who speak against rape and violence against women in the country and will boost the morale of those who commit violence against women.
It is alarming that the incidents of violence and rape are increasing rapidly across the country, what is even worse and sadder is that the central and state governments and their institutions are trying hard to protect the accused in all these incidents. This is extremely dangerous for any democratic country. This action of the BHU administration is not only against the students, who raised their voice against rape, it is also against the democratic ethos of our country in which we women, queer and trans people dream of equality and dignity.
We strongly condemn this notice issued by the BHU administration and demand its immediate withdrawal. We believe that who really needs counselling, gender training are the institutions and their administration where incidents of violence against women are a frequent occurrence, and the perpetrators enjoy impunity due to protection from the administration. Our demand is that a gender sensitivity workshop is much needed for the administrative officers of BHU, in which we, women, queer, trans activists and feminist organizations from across the country are ready to provide our services.
We are women, queer, trans activists and feminist organizations:
- Maya John, Centre for Struggling Women (CSW)
- Harpuneet Kaur, Student Activist, Panjab Feminist Union of Students, Panjab University Chandigarh
- Reclaim the Night, Reclaim the Rights Movement, West Bengal
- Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
- E. Rati Rao, President, All India Progressive Women’s Association
- Nisha Biswas, Feminists in Resistance, Kolkata
- Shambhavi, COLLECTIVE
- Suparna, Nari Chetana
- Koel Chatterji, Entrepreneur, Feminists in Resistance, Kolkata
- Poushali Basak, Forum against Oppression of Women and Feminists in Resistance
- Sanchita Mukherjee, Independent, Feminists in Resistance
- Manjula Pradeep, National Council of Women Leaders
- Chandrasmita Choudhuri, All India Progressive Women’s Association
- Neha, All India Students’ Association
- Saba Parveen, Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA)
- Seema Azad, Human Rights Activist
- Ranjana Padhi, Feminist Activist and Writer
- Taniya Laskar, Advocate, Assam.
- Kumudini Pati, Journalist
- Komilla Thapa, retired Professor of Psychology, AU
- Utpala Shukla, Nagarik Samaj
- Urmi Daniella Azar, teacher
- Shahida Hasan, US
- Salim, CPI(ML)
- Mahendra Mishra, Editor, Janchowk
- Deepa Bhushan, Lawyer
- Nidhi Mishra, Physician
- Padma Singh, Teacher and women rights activist
- Radhika Menon, Professor
- Tripta Wahi, Retired Professor, DU
- Shikha Shalini, Journalist
- Junu Bora,Women’s Rights Activist and Writer, Guwahati, Assam.
- Rooprekha Verma, Ex- VC, Lucknow University, Convenor, Sanjhi Duniya
- Shaira Naim, Journalist
- Gayatri Ganguly, CPM
- Vani Subramanian, Saheli Women’s Resource Centre