UP: 13 BHU students held for bid to ‘burn’ Manusmriti, assaulting security guards

According to the police, on December 25, they received information from the BHU chief security officer that a group of students gathered at the arts faculty intersection on the campus. The students allegedly attempted to burn the Manusmriti as part of a “planned effort to incite religious discord and create a disturbance,” police said.

Upon being informed, security guards reached the spot and attempted to pacify the students, preventing them from burning the Manusmriti. However, the accused allegedly attacked the security personnel, vandalised property and obstructed official duties.

On the basis of a complaint, an FIR was registered at the Lanka police station under BNS sections 32 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121 (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 196 (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 299 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 190 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 191 (Rioting), 115 (Voluntarily causing hurt) and 110 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide).