Chief Proctor of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) O.N. Singh resigned late on Tuesday, taking "moral responsibility" for the lathi charge on students demanding justice for a colleague who was molested on the campus.
The incidents on the campus over the last few days has raised questions on the safety of women students in one of Asia's largest residential campuses. Several students (many of them girls), journalists and policemen were injured as the police lathi-charged the protestors, some of whom also allegedly indulged in arson, on Saturday night.
Mr. Singh's resignation was accepted by Vice Chancellor Girish Chandra Tripathi, a varsity spokesperson said.
Steps for better security on the campus
Meanwhile, even as the Varanasi Divisional Commissioner held the BHU administration guilty of not being sensitive during the incident and failing to take timely action, the varsity announced a number of steps for better security on the campus.
The BHU is spread over a sprawling 1,360 acres.
Vehicular movement around hostels will now be restricted and better lighting will be provided at night. CCTV cameras will be installed at sensitive places within the campus and a mechanism for checking of vehicles will also be implemented.
Women guards will soon be deployed in girls' hostels while a committee will be formed at the hostel level to provide suggestions to the administration on the safety demands and other necessary issues faced by those staying in the hostels. A dedicated helpline number will also be started, the BHU said.
Molestation unfortunate, says VC
Terming the molestation of a fine arts student, which led to the protests, "unfortunate and extremely painful," Mr. Tripathi said the culprits in the case were being identified and strict action would be taken against them.
"She is like my daughter as well as that of the university," Mr. Tripathi said.
