2023 IIT-BHU gang rape
| 2023 IIT-BHU gang rape | |
|---|---|
  2023 IIT-BHU gang rape (Uttar Pradesh) | |
| Location | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 25°19′N 82°58′E / 25.31°N 82.97°E |
| Date | 1 November 2023 |
Attack type | Rape, strangling (with dupatta) |
No. of participants | 3 |
| Charges | National Security Act and the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (prevention) act |
On 1 November 2023, a 22-year-old B.Tech student of IIT-BHU was allegedly waylaid, stripped and gang-raped. They also filmed the girl at gunpoint, in Banaras district, Uttar Pradesh, India, by three Members of the BJP IT Cell.[1][2][3][4]
Background[edit]
On 2 November 2023, an explicit video surfaced online showing a student being accosted by three people in the early hours of the morning inside the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) campus.[5]
The three accused had traveled to Madhya Pradesh after raping the student on the night of November 1, 2023. According to media reports, when BHU students started protesting after the incident, the suspects felt scared and escaped to Madhya Pradesh and participated in the local campaigning for state elections. Meanwhile, they kept changing locations. They also visited many other cities including Lucknow. Almost two months had passed, and no action had been taken, and all three were now convinced that nothing would happen. After that they returned to Varanasi, police said one of their numbers was monitored and tracked them.[6]
Protest[edit]
Congress leaders staged a sit-in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government in the wake of the alleged rape of a student at the prestigious Indian Institute of Varanasi (IIT-BHU).[7] The protesters demanded that justice be done to the student and that the accused be punished. There were also clashes between the Congressmen and the police during the protest. UP Congress president Ajay Rai said that a protest would be held against the rape at the IIT Varanasi.[8]
The Congress and Samajwadi Party have declared their intention to initiate a statewide protest movement regarding this matter. They have expressed their concerns over the silence of both the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on this issue.
Amitabh Thakur, the national president of Azad Adhikar Sena, called for action to be taken against the leaders who shielded the accused. Additionally, prayers were conducted to seek purification for the souls of BJP leaders in Lucknow.[9]
Aftermath[edit]
All three accused had fled to Madhya Pradesh after raping the 22-year-old girl on November 1, 2023. In Madhya Pradesh they campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party. According to media reports, Uttar Pradesh police tracked down the three suspects within three days but could not arrest them allegedly due to orders from higher authorities. Later, when elections were held in four states, police intervened, and the three suspects were arrested. After the arrest, all three defendants were detained for 12 days. After their arrest, pictures of all three accused along with key leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have gone viral on social media.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "IT-BHU Gangrape Case: Students, Civil Society, Political Parties Take to Streets". NewsClick. 2024-01-02. Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "IIT BHU गैंगरेप: बीजेपी IT सेल के तीन नेता गिरफ्तार, बंदूक की नोंक पर छात्रा के कपड़े उतरवाए थे". Hindustan (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "IIT-BHU Gangrape: At Least Two of Three Arrested Members of BJP's Varanasi 'IT Cell'". The Wire. Archived from the original on 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ डेस्क, एबीपी न्यूज़ (2024-01-02). "IIT-BHU: 'गन पॉइंट पर उठाकर ले गए, सहमी हुई मिली थी पीड़िता...', चश्मदीद ने बताया". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "मेला देखा, शराब पी, गैंगरेप के बाद MP में किया चुनाव प्रचार, IIT BHU मामले में और क्या पता चला?". The Lallantop (in Hindi). 2024-01-01. Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "IIT-BHU gangrape case: BJP denies accused 'link' with party". The New Indian Express. January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
- ^ PTI (2024-01-02). "Congress workers protest against BHU student gang rape in front of PM's office in Varanasi". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ "IIT-BHU student gang-rape case: Why no bulldozer action this time, asks Congress". India Today. 2 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ PTI. "Three arrested for rape of IIT-BHU student, oppn alleges accused linked to BJP". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ "After fresh statement, police add gangrape section to IIT-BHU woman sexual assault case". The Indian Express. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2024-01-03.