Anti-reservationists lathicharged in BHU, 8 hurt

Varanasi, Dec 26: At least eight students protesting 27 per centOBC reservation in higher education were injured, three of themseriously, when they were allegedly lathicharged by Benaras HinduUniversity (BHU) security personnel on the central university campushere this evening.

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

The security personnel asked them to shift their protest to someother place on the pretext that a flower expo to mark the birthanniversary of BHU founder Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya was going oninside.

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

All the injured were admitted to the emergency ward of the SirSunder Lal Hospital on the BHU campus. Two students, who suffered minorinjuries, 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 therelay hunger strike and instead resort to fast unto death demandingsuspension of concerned officials, including Chief Proctor S K Singh.

UNI