Student activists arrested and harassed at BHU: CASR condemns action

By A Representative 

The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has strongly condemned the arrest and alleged physical and mental harassment of 13 student activists from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who were discussing the Manusmriti on December 25. The students, members of the Bhagat Singh Students Morcha (BSM), have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days following an FIR registered under non-bailable sections.

The incident occurred during a discussion held to commemorate Manusmriti Day, a historical day observed in memory of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s symbolic burning of the Manusmriti in 1927. According to reports, guards from BHU’s Proctorial Board disrupted the gathering, detained the students, and allegedly manhandled them, resulting in injuries, torn clothes, and broken glasses.

When other students arrived to support their detained peers, they too were reportedly assaulted, detained, and threatened by both the BHU guards and Varanasi police. The students were then forcefully taken to Lanka Police Station, where they were allegedly denied legal counsel, access to phones, and communication with their families—a violation of Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission guidelines.

Stringent charges filed against students

The FIR filed against the students includes serious charges such as:

Section 132 IPC: Assault on a public servant (non-bailable).

Section 121(2): Causing grievous hurt to a government servant.

Section 196(1)(b): Disturbing communal harmony.

Section 299 BNS: Insulting religion.

Section 110 BNS: Attempt to commit culpable homicide.

Section 191(1) BNS: Rioting.

Section 115(2) BNS: Intentional hurt.

CASR accused the BHU administration and police of acting under pressure from “Brahminical Hindutva Fascist forces” aligned with BJP-RSS ideology. They argue that the arrests are an attack on democratic rights and an attempt to suppress discussions critical of Manusmriti, a text they describe as deeply oppressive to Dalits, Shudras, and women.

Despite the crackdown, the detained activists reportedly raised slogans like “Manusmriti Murdabad” and “Inquilab Zindabad” with unwavering resolve while being taken to jail.

CASR  made the following demands:

1. Immediate release of all arrested students.

2. Quashing of the FIR filed against them.

3. Registration of an FIR against the police and BHU guards for assaulting students and manhandling female activists.

The organization has called upon democratic and progressive groups to unite against what they describe as “state repression” of student activism and the suppression of voices critical of Brahminical Hindutva forces.

The condemnation has been supported by several student and civil society organizations, including AIRSO, AISA, AISF, Bhim Army, Rihai Manch, and others.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raises concerns about the shrinking space for democratic dissent and free expression in university campuses across India.