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After a night of lathi-charge, where at least three girls needed urgent medical aid, the air is relatively calmer in Benaras Hindu University. At the core of these protests, which are against the molestation of a girl on 19 September evening, lies the demand for better security for women.
The Quint was told by a proctorial member that guards at Benaras Hindu University are constantly working under fear.
The proctorial board of BHU is responsible for maintaining security inside the campus, the police has no role to play. They have employed guards who are primarily former servicemen.
BHU Guards Are ‘Confused’
According to proctorial board member Shraddha Singh, the guards in BHU have to work on the basis of "guidance" given to them.
Sometimes our security forces get scolded and threatened when they interrupt. They have to weigh what say before they do. They’re all very confused. A few days ago some boys came to the proctor office and demanded suspension of a guard. When asked why he should be suspended, they said, ‘He beat up a guy from our hostel. The boy’s fault was only that he eve-teased a girl’.Shraddha Singh, Proctorial Board Member
If guidance is given to them then why is it that they're confused, The Quint asked. To which Shraddha says the professors aren't safe themselves.
Why is the campus unsafe? It is because of these boys. These boys don’t leave us either. Even we aren’t safe.
BHU Women Grievance Cell Exists? Girls Ask
The protest wasn't a knee-jerk reaction to the incident last week. The anger has festered over the years.
Sita*, from the Faculty of Social Science who has studied in BHU for five consecutive years, says things have gotten progressively worse.
"Yes I have been eve-teased several times. It is horrible that it has become a very normal thing. It's become a part of our day on campus. I have not met a girl here who hasn't been eve-teased at least twice a week."
When asked about the women grievance redressal cell she says it's been inactive. "Is it active? I don't think so. I don't know how to contact the grievance cell or what exactly they're meant to do."
Another student from the faculty of social science says she didn't know about the women's cell.
"Safety means restrictions on girls in this campus. At night boys hoot outside our hostels all the time, stare at us and masturbate. Nothing is being done," she said.
One of the demands of the girls is to set up a Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment.
However, Vibha Tripathi, who has been a member of women’s grievance cell for years says the cell has been active and tries to reconcile matters.
We ask the girl if she will be satisfied by a written apology from the boy. Because we are acting as parents. We are parents for the girls and parents for the boys. So we cannot have a sense of animosity against anyone.Vibha Tripathi
Sita says they don't care about these redressal mechanisms, "What is the admin doing to ensure this doesn't happen ever again?"
First Time 500 girls Admitted in BHU, So What?
While questioned about security, Dr MK Singh, Dean of students of BHU, says there are more girl students in the campus than ever.
This is the first time in BHU that undergraduate courses in faculty of social science and arts is open to girls. Because of which, there are 500 additional girls on the campus.MK Singh, Dean of Students
When The Quint asked what 500 additional girl students being in campus had to do with security measures, he was quick to say there was a lapse on the side of the administration and that they'll ensure they will do everything they can.
Are Women Safe Outside of Campus?
The incident which sparked the protest happened near the Triveni hostel where two men on bikes molested a girl and sped off. There were no CCTV cameras.
Yes we agree we need CCTV cameras, but do you think all the cases are happening under the glare of CCTV cameras?Kalpana Gupta, Coordinator of Triveni Complex
"Just like how women are facing problems across the world, sometimes such incidents happen on campus too," she said.
Shraddha, from the proctorial board, also says the same thing, "Not only BHU, are girls safe outside of BHU?" she asks.
Not One Arrested
When we asked the police who gave the orders for the lathi-charge, they said they need to investigate the matter.
To nab the accused who molested the girl on 19 night, the police said their investigation would be based on the CCTV cameras.
"The investigations are on to find those boys and we will arrest them at the earliest. We will look at the CCTV footage. Yes they aren't there at every crossroad of the campus but whichever ones are there, we will see the numbers of the vehicles and nab the boys," said Rajeev Singh, Inspector.
As the protests enter day 4, no one has been arrested and nor has the VC met the students.
*Name changed
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