Violent clashes at Banaras Hindu University campus, Varanasi on Monday

Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh witnessed six hours of violent clashes between the students and resident doctors of Sir Sundarlal Hospital, and between students and police on the night of Monday, September 24, while Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Bhatnagar and chief proctor Royana Singh allegedly switched off their mobile phones and ordered guards to close the gates of their residences.

As per police reports, a student had gone to the university’s hospital for treatment of his relative, who was supposed to undergo an immediate surgery. But the doctors allegedly refused admission on the pretext of having no vacancy. As a result, an altercation broke out between the student and a resident doctor.

The student Shivaji Kumar has alleged that the doctors manhandled the patient and beat him up when he reacted. But the residents claimed that a large number of students reached there and attacked a doctor, Vishwajeet Patel.

The police alleged the rioters also damaged an ATM kiosk, a police outpost and two vehicles.

Over a dozen people on both sides sustained injuries in the clashes.

Later, the residents declared strike and sat on dharna at Singh Dwar, the main gate of the university, demanding immediate arrest of the “attackers.” The police arrested Shivaji on Tuesday, September 25, morning.

The residents returned to their hostels, however, they had not returned to work on Tuesday morning.

Both sides have alleged that they tried in vain to meet the VC and the Chief Proctor. “Their gates were locked. They had switched off their mobile phones and disconnected the telephones apparently because they didn’t want to resolve the issue”, both the sides told media on Tuesday, September 25.

Royana Singh, chief proctor, who reached the hospital to meet the residents on Tuesday, September 25, morning, claimed she was in contact with the officers and alert to prevent any untoward incident.

Vinay Kumar, Varanasi ADM said, “The police and paramilitary have been deployed on the campus and senior doctors are attending to the patients. The situation is returning to normal.”