Horror Unfolds at BHU: Assault and Extortion Case Rocks Campus

In a shocking turn of events at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), two final-year students, Shriman Narain Shukla and Suraj Dubey, have been implicated in a disturbing assault and extortion case. Authorities are actively pursuing a third person linked to the incident, along with two local youths who were reportedly present during the harrowing episode.

The distressing incident, which unfolded on January 11, only came to light on February 4 when the victim courageously filed a police complaint, leading to the prompt registration of an FIR. Initial reports suggest that the accused and the victim crossed paths in December 2023 through an LGBTQ-specific app.

The victim, a 32-year-old male doctor, narrated a distressing account of receiving a call from one of the accused, claiming a medical emergency involving his roommate’s deteriorating health. Upon arriving at the university, the doctor was directed to a hostel room. In a nightmarish sequence of events, he became a victim of unnatural acts, forcibly stripped, and robbed of his gold ornaments, including a ring and a chain.

Adding to the horror, the perpetrators recorded the entire incident and wielded the footage as a tool of blackmail, threatening to expose it on social media. The accused exploited this leverage, engaging in extortion and coercing the victim into parting with a substantial sum of money. Through meticulous tracking of bank transactions initiated by the victim, authorities were able to trace the accused.

Varanasi Deputy Commissioner of Police RS Gautam disclosed that following their apprehension, both accused confessed to the crime, expressing remorse and pleading for leniency. They pledged not to repeat such actions in the future. During interrogation, the accused shockingly admitted to assaulting four other doctors and a businessman in previous incidents, although no additional victims have come forward thus far.

While a stolen gold chain and ring were successfully recovered, the extorted sum of Rs 60,000 could not be retrieved as it had already been spent. The Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act has been invoked against the accused students.

The accused now face serious charges under Sections 377 (unnatural offences), 347 (wrongful confinement to extort property or perform illegal conduct), 384 (extortion), 394 (voluntarily causing pain in committing robbery), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

BHU Chief Proctor Prof Shiv Prakash Singh has urgently requested a comprehensive report from the Dean of Faculty regarding the incident. The university, committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment, intends to take decisive action against the accused students based on the findings of the Dean’s report and in adherence to university norms.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources