Learning from BHU, top Uttar Pradesh universities act on time, file FIR against molesters

Two new harassment cases at Uttar Pradesh's top universities were reported on Thursday even as the controversy over the last week's lathicharge at the BHU continues.

But unlike the apathy shown by the BHU administration, Lucknow and Allahabad universities not only acted in time but also made sure that justice was done for the victims.

Once known as Oxford of East, the Allahabad University is fourth oldest university in India.

A molestation complaint was reported by Shweta Singh (name changed), a BA final year student.

She said while coming out of the university gates on September 26, a second year student allegedly made lewd remarks.

When she objected, the student grabbed her hand and tried to hug her.

When a visibly shocked Shweta shouted, a few students and university staffers rushed to her rescue. The student ran away threatening her with dire consequences.

Shweta, who had recognised student, reported the matter in writing to Prof RS Dubey, the university Proctor.

“He had made comments tried to catch my hand in the past also. He is habitual offender and need to be taught a lesson,” Shweta said after lodging the complaint.

Learning lessons from the BHU, the Proctor lodged an FIR against the erring student in Colonelganj Police station and rusticated the him on basis of the victim’s complaint, eye-witnesses accounts and CCTV footage.

“It is a criminal act and the student has lost the right to remain a part of the prestigious university. I warn all other students to face similar fate if they indulged in any such activity targeting their female colleagues,” Prof Dubey said.

In yet another case, a BBA student Alka (name changed) was molested by a MBA passout Himanshu Yadav of the Lucknow University.

Himanshu has been stalking the girl from the university’s new campus up to her residence for the past one month.

Alka said that she had tried to warn Himashu several times but on September 26, he tried to physically assault her.

Unfazed by Himanshu’s threat, she filed a written complaint with the Proctor Prof Vinod Singh.

Ordering an inquiry into the incident, Prof Singh lodged a police complaint against Himanshu.

“We have identified the student who is a 2016-2017 MBA batch pass out. The Police is on the look-out and soon he will be arrested,” assured the Lucknow University Proctor.

The two incidents suggest that after the BHU molestation case, awareness has increased among female students and they are reporting eve-teasing incidents without any fear.

Secondly, after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s warning, university authorities are also not wasting time to initiate action against street Romeos stalking in campus and outside.