A Samajwadi Party student leader has been arrested in Varanasi for allegedly assaulting a student at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) after questioning him about his caste, sparking outrage and calls for disciplinary action.
Key Points
- Himanshu Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha's BHU unit, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a student at Banaras Hindu University.
- The complainant, Prashant Mishra, alleges that Yadav assaulted him after asking about his caste and course.
- Yadav is also accused of issuing death threats to the complainant.
- The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has condemned the incident and called for strict action against those responsible.
- Police have arrested the accused, and further legal action is underway in Varanasi.
Police here on Thursday arrested Himanshu Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha's BHU unit, for allegedly assaulting a student after asking his caste at Banaras Hindu University, officials said.
Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha is Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party's students' wing.
According to the police, complainant Prashant Mishra alleged that the incident took place on Wednesday around 11.45 am while he was in the class. Yadav allegedly asked him about his caste and course before assaulting him.
Mishra also accused Yadav of issuing death threats.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Bhelupur) Gaurav Kumar said the accused has been arrested and further legal action is underway.
Reactions to the Incident
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) condemned the incident, calling it "highly shameful and reprehensible."
ABVP Varanasi unit president Pallav Suman said, "For a long time, anti-social elements linked to certain political groups have been trying to destabilise the campus to fulfil their political ambitions. We have urged the university administration to identify the culprits and take strict legal and disciplinary action."
© 2026