Anti-reservationists lathicharged in BHU, 8 wounded

Varanasi, Dec 25 (UNI) At least eight students protesting 27 per cent OBC reservation in higher education were injured, three of them seriously, when they were allegedly lathicharged by Benaras Hindu University (BHU) security personnel on the central university campus here this evening.

The incident took place when the students under the banner of 'Youth for Equality' embarked on a signature campaign against 27 per cent OBC reservation in higher education, outside the Malviya Bhawan on the varsity campus.

The security personnel asked them to shift their protest to some other place on the pretext that a flower expo to mark the birth anniversary of BHU founder Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya was going on inside.

When the protestors, mostly medicos, refused to abide by security personnel instructions, they were lathicharged near the Vice-Chancellor's residence, resulting in injuries to eight students.

All the injured were admitted to the emergency ward of the Sir Sunder Lal Hospital on the BHU campus. Two students, who suffered minor injuries, were discharged after the primary treatment.

University security officials, however, said force was used to disperse the students, who were indulging in violence.

Meanwhile, Youth for Equality-Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS-BHU) convenor Kamal Gupta said varsity students will now leave the relay hunger strike and instead resort to fast unto death demanding suspension of concerned officials, including Chief Proctor S K Singh.

UNI ARS ATI HS RAI2056