BHU students face the music, FIR ON 14, case on BHU Buzz

While Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Vice-Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi has been sent on long leave by the Central government, the students who have been fighting against injustice quietly have come under fire. An FIR has been filed against the members of BHU Joint Action Committee and the rest of students under some strict sections. These fourteen students are the students who had come up in support of the girls’ movement against sexual harassment. Not only this, an FIR has been filed against BHU Buzz under section 66 of the IT act. BHU Buzz is the University magazine-facebook-Twitter handle and the social media platform which gave the news of every development regarding the police lathicharge on girl students and their movement against sexual harassment.

The important fact is that the first genuine information about girl students’ protest was made public for the outside world by BHU Buzz only. Various videos showing police lathicharge on girls, police entering the girls’ hostels and beating them up were shared on this platform. It was because of that the entire country stood up against police atrocities on protesting girls. Since then, BHU Buzz has been the BHU administration’s target. BHU Buzz was formed in 2015 when the movement started against the discriminatory treatment of girl students, lack of democratic environment and the issue of the use of the library. As the movement gained momentum, the credibility of BHU Buzz and its reputation amongst students also became stronger. The way BHU administration has got the FIR registered against this platform clearly shows that stage is being set for a huge step against the democratic environment in BHU.

Manish, a member of the BHU students’ Joint Action Committee, told National Herald that this FIR against 14 students indicates that suppressive action against the students who took part in this movement has started.

The FIR mentions even Section 307 of the IPC which deals with the accusation of the attempt to murder. This only means that the BHU administration is hell-bent on destroying the career of these students.

Another member of the committee, Roshan, said, “We came out of suspension with much difficulty and only after Supreme Court’s help. I am taking examinations now. But once again this FIR has been filed against us. They are trying to suppress our voice and destroy our careers. This is a very dangerous situation. It seems we will be penalised heavily for this. We are fighting for democracy and our rights but the university is trying hard to prove us criminals.”