The alleged sexual harassment of a female student at the Banaras Hindu University, which provoked massive protests and a controversial police crackdown on students, was a "a simple case of eve teasing", the university's Vice Chancellor has said.


NDTV reports that Girish Chandra Tripathi has also alleged that the "incident was deliberately staged" a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Varanasi, which is his parliamentary constituency.


To bring you up to speed, a number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a lathi charge by the police in BHU, which witnessed violence on Saturday night, in an ugly turn to a protest against the alleged sexual molestation incident.


In the wake of the violence, the university has announced holidays from Monday till October 2, advancing it from September 28.


Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sought a report from the divisional commissioner about the incident as various political parties, including Samajwadi Party, criticised the government and condemned the police action.


A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in the lathi charge by the police.  Some policemen were also injured in the clashes during which students indulged in arson, police sources said.


IMAGE: An injured student writhes in pain after police allegedly beat them up during a clash at BHU late Saturday night. Photograph: PTI Photo