| Place: | Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Date: | September 2017 |
The Banaras Hindu University women's rights protest is a series of events beginning with a Banaras Hindu University student's September 2017 complaint that the university administration treated women unfairly.
On 21 September 2017, a woman reported sexual harassment to the university.[1] She claimed that the university responded by blaming her.[1]
The next day, 22 September, students organized a protest against the university's treatment of women.[1]
The university's administration filed a First information report against hundreds of students and alleged outsiders for rioting, mischief indented arson, attempt to murder among other sections of Indian Penal Code.[2]
Police used laathi charge in an attempt to get protesters to disperse the protestors.[3] [4] Various protesters reported injuries. Alleged outsiders joined the students in stone-pelting.[5]
Large number of male students joined their female counterparts in protests and silent march against police violence.[6]
The protests in Benares triggered protests in Delhi.[7]
At the one year anniversary of the protest students organized another protest.[8] The protesters reported that an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad student group attacked them violently for protesting.[9]
Chief Proctor of the university resigned taking moral responsibility.[10]
Prime Minister Modi discussed a response with the chief minister.[11]
Uttar Pradesh Governor called the incident sad.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recommended better communication as a way to prevent future such protests, and sought a report from the Divisional commissioner.[12]
A committee to look into the protest over an alleged harassment was set-up under Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary.
ABVP and NSUI student groups staged demonstrations in New Delhi against police brutality in BHU.
In May 2018, following-up on an inquiry report, the university administration debarred 11 students on charges of vandalism and assault.[13]
The Station House Officer (police station in-charge/SHO) of Lanka police station, the deputy police superintendent, and three additional city magistrates were transferred or removed.
In view of intelligence reports that brutality on BHU students may spark protests in other universities and colleges, campuses were closed momentarily in the district.