BHU TO REOPEN TODAY, VC GOES ON LEAVE

VARANASI: Banaras Hindu University (BHU) vice-chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi has gone home for “personal reasons”, triggering a campus buzz that his leave could be indefinite, but the administration said he will be back when the institute reopens after the Dussehra break on Tuesday.

The beleaguered vice chancellor’s leave activated the grapevine as the BHU has been on the edge since the September 23 police crackdown on protesters demanding action on a complaint of molestation by a hosteller.

Several students, mostly women, were wounded in the campus unrest that threatened to spread to other universities.

The BHU advanced the Dussehra holidays by three days from September 25.

Tripathi is accused of mishandling the situation and his annual leave around this time of the year triggered talks that he might not return.

“The VC left for his home in Allahabad on Sunday morning. After fasting for nine days during Navratra, he breaks his fast at his home. He is most likely to return by late Monday night,” BHU public relation officer Rajesh Singh said.

University registrar Neeraj Tripathi led the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations on campus in the vice chancellor’s absence on Sunday. A cleanliness drive was part of the programme.

New chief proctor Royana Singh and other officials participated in the drive with brooms in their hands.

The administration has stepped up security on the campus before classes resume on Tuesday.

Three quick response teams of university guards will patrol the premises and district police will also provide security to prevent untoward incidents. Policemen will guard the entry points.

“We will keep an eye on each visitor,” police officer Sanjiv Mishra said.

As many as 30 surveillance cameras were installed as part of the drill.

Officer Mishra said halogen lamps were installed at 15 locations on roads leading to hostels for girls on the campus. More are likely to be fixed soon.

A team of UP police detectives visited on Monday the hostel in which the molestation complainant is a boarder. She had alleged that men on motorcycles molested her on the way back to the hostel after dusk on September 21.

The previous proctor allegedly ignored her complaint and the vice chancellor drew flak later, saying woman students shouldn’t be out at night.

Police officers also met the complainant for details about the culprits but she apparently told them that it won’t be possible to identify the two suspects.