13 students having connections to urban Naxalites attempt to burn Manusmriti, attack security guards and vandalise property when stopped
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India 
24 December, 2024
Case Summary
A violent confrontation broke out between some students and the Proctorial Board at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The altercation occurred when students, affiliated with Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha, were accused of attempting to burn a copy of the Manusmriti, a Hindu scripture, at the university's Arts Faculty intersection. The situation quickly escalated as members of the Proctorial Board tried to disperse the students and calm the situation. However, the students attacked the security guards and vandalised property, leading to the injury of two female security guards. The following day, the Lanka police filed charges against the students, including accusations of assaulting security personnel, provoking religious sentiments, and attempting to burn the Manusmriti. A total of 13 students, including three females, were arrested and later presented in court before being sent to jail under judicial custody. The arrested students were identified by their respective academic courses and included individuals from various fields such as BA (Hons), MA (Hindi), MA (Sociology), MSc (Psychology), and research students in Philosophy. Among those arrested was Ipshita Agarwal, the Joint Secretary of Bhagat Singh Chhatra Morcha. In addition to the arrest, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) became involved, as some of the accused students were suspected of having connections to urban Naxalites. The ATS interrogated the students to determine the motive behind their actions, and one female student had already been questioned by a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The Chief Proctor of BHU, Prof. SP Singh, submitted a formal complaint to the Lanka police station, stating that the student's actions were part of a prearranged plot to incite religious unrest by burning the Manusmriti. The Proctorial Board members, upon trying to intervene, were met with aggression from the students, resulting in the attack on security personnel and the subsequent damage to university property.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the Hinduphobia tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category chosen is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The Manusmriti is one of the foundational texts in Hinduism, traditionally attributed to the sage Manu. It serves as a dharmaśāstra, offering guidance on various aspects of life, including morality, law, and social conduct. It is a symbol of Hindu cultural and religious heritage and desecrating the holy text can be viewed as an affront to Hinduism. There could be no other reason than an inherent animosity against Hinduism that led the students to commit the offence. Since disrespect for the Hindu religion is the primary purpose behind this incident, this case has been added to the tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 10 to 100
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
