IIT-BHU: B.Tech Student was ‘Gang-Raped’, Section Added After Statement to Magistrate

In Uttar Pradesh’s IIT-BHU (Banaras Hindu University), a B.Tech student was not only molested but also allegedly gang-raped. The miscreants made a video of her after the rape and also saved her number in their mobile to blackmail her. This incident was carried out at gun point. The criminals had come on a Bullet motorcycle.

After the magisterial statement of the student, the police have introduced the Section of gangrape i.e. 376 (D) in this case. Till now the case had been registered under Sections 354 (B) and 509.

On Wednesday, IIT-BHU students boycotted their classes and held their classes on Library Road in front of the Director's office, protesting the non-arrest of the accused. Later in the evening, thousands of BHU students took out a huge march carrying placards in their hands. The movement ended after a huge struggle.

According to the Lanka police station, the survivor recorded her statement before the magistrate on November 8, 2023 under Section 164 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code). In the statement, she told the magistrate that she was not only molested but also raped by the three men.

After the magistrate's statement, the police added the Section of gang-rape in this case. The investigation of the case has been handed over to Police Inspector Shivakant Mishra of Lanka police station. According to the police, the miscreants had made the girl student remove her clothes at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, Banaras Police Commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain said it was not possible for the accused to escape, as the survivor had given her written statement in front of the police and magistrate.

This matter will be exposed soon, he said.  Sources said the police have found clues about the criminals and they may be exposed any day.

On the evening of November 8, thousands of students took to the streets and put pressure on the police. The students took out a huge march and raised slogans against the police. Late at night, many top police officers reached the spot among the students protesting outside IIT-BHU. They held several rounds of talks with representatives of the IIT Students Parliament. After receiving concrete assurance of the early arrest of the accused, the agitating students went back to the hostels. The students have, however, given an ultimatum that if the accused are not arrested soon, they would take to the streets and protest again.

On Wednesday evening, BHU students took out an about 3-kilometer-long rally from the office of the Director of IIT. Some students were even seen walking barefoot with the photo of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in their hands. The students' march passed through Hyderabad Gate and Visvesvaraya Square and reached the Director's office and turned into a dharna. The students said that the protest would continue until the accused were arrested.

The agitating students studied at the protest site as they had boycotted classes.

Recall that at 1.30 a.m. on November 2, three men had committed the horrific incident of molesting and stripping a second year IIT student of BHU and even made a video.

According to the police, after the incident, the miscreants fled from Hyderabad Gate. The challenge of the police has increased after the gang-rape case was registered.

Meanwhile, the protesting students, on behalf of 'We the people of BHU', submitted an 11-point demand charter to the Chief Proctor and alleged that the IIT administration was erecting iron barricades in the campus.

Mrityunjay Tiwari, a research student, said that IIT-BHU had promised that the campus would not be divided. The iron barricading should be removed immediately, he said, adding that the road to the women’s hostel should also be closed for the general public after 10 p.m.