In an incident that heightens the concern over women’s security on Banaras Hindu University campus, a masked youth entered the premises of a women’s hostel at the university by jumping over the boundary wall in the wee hours of Saturday. But the intruder fled when a female security personnel spotted him and raised an alarm.
The incident took place at Pawagi Hostel around 1.30 am, sources said. The security personnel’s shouts woke up the boarders.
Chief proctor Royana Singh confirmed that the alert security personnel, along with the women boarders, chased the intruder who managed to escape. The quick response team (QRT) carried out a search around the hostel premises but didn’t find anyone.
Singh said security was further tightened around the hostel after the incident. She said construction work was underway at the rear of the hostel where the boundary was a ‘bit broken’.
The chief proctor recently constituted three QRTs to upgrade security arrangements on the premises. The teams patrol the campus and rush to the spot as soon as any girl lodges a complaint with them.
On Thursday evening, a woman student was allegedly harassed by three bike-borne youths inside the BHU premises.
{{/usCountry}}On Thursday evening, a woman student was allegedly harassed by three bike-borne youths inside the BHU premises.
{{/usCountry}}The university erupted in protest last month, demanding safety for girls inside the university premises and action against two unidentified persons who allegedly molested a student on September 21.
The September 21 incident took a more ugly turn two days later when the police cane charged protesting students, mostly women. A case was registered against 1000 unidentified students.
A committee formed by the state government to probe the incident blamed the BHU administration and vice chancellor Girish Chand Tripathi for improper handling of the case. Tripathi is now on indefinite leave.
Again on October 5, a woman student lodged a police complaint accusing a male student of assaulting her. The BHU administration took prompt action and suspended the student.
Security on the campus was beefed up following the earlier two incidents, but it has apparently failed to secure the campus for the girl students.
Singh has appealed to people, both boarders and outsiders, to carry a valid identity card while visiting the university campus.
Action will be taken against anyone found roaming on the premises without a valid identity card after sunset, she added.