Violence erupts on BHU campus as student–security clash sparks night of chaos

Tension gripped the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus late December 2 after a confrontation between hostel students and university security personnel escalated into stone-pelting and vandalism, prompting a police response.

According to university sources, the flashpoint emerged when a group of students went to the proctorial board office to complain about a vehicle allegedly hitting a student earlier in the evening. The discussion reportedly turned heated, leading to a physical altercation.

Matters worsened when security staff detained some of the students involved. News of the detentions spread rapidly across hostels, drawing a larger crowd to the scene. Witnesses said the gathering soon turned aggressive, with students allegedly pelting stones, damaging property and smashing flowerpots.

Police arrived after being alerted by university officials. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Varanasi) Gaurav Kumar said that by the time the police reached the spot, the situation had largely stabilized. “We were informed by BHU authorities and deployed a team immediately. The situation is now under control,” he said.

Multiple accounts of how the dispute began have surfaced. Police said the spark may have been the detention of a student suspected to be intoxicated, which triggered a demand from fellow students for his release. When security personnel refused, the standoff escalated.

A group of masked students allegedly led the stone-pelting, police added. No injuries were reported.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Saravanan T confirmed that an FIR has been registered, although no arrests have been made so far. Meanwhile, the university’s proctorial board has launched an internal inquiry to determine responsibility and assess damages.

The incident adds to growing concerns over rising tensions and campus unrest in several public universities across the country.