Avaneesh Mishra

Students of the university’s SVDV faculty have been protesting against Khan’s appointment since early November on the grounds that he is a Muslim.

While the 23-year-old’s body reached her village in Unnao on Saturday night from Delhi, the burial was delayed as the family waited for the victim’s elder sister to arrive from Pune, and demanded that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath meet them.

“My only demand is that my daughter’s killers should be chased and shot dead, like it happened in Hyderabad,” he said. “They should not come out of jail. I want them dead... Only then will her soul find peace.

The woman’s family said she was on her way to catch a train to Rae Bareli in connection with the rape case when she was waylaid by the accused.

The university administration, meanwhile, said they got information on a few such posters and they were all removed by Wednesday evening.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad, which has been asked to help the Lucknow police in its investigation, has found that similar threat letters have been sent to Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu and Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

Before and after the Ayodhya verdict in favour of the Hindu parties on November 9, religious and political leaders had urged people to restrain themselves from rallies and celebrations.

The students of SVDV who opposed the appointment of Khan had said on multiple occasions that they did not find a Muslim fit to teach them about Sanatan Dharma and Karmkaand, as he was not connected with their culture.

The students had been staging a sit-in protest for the past two weeks. The SVDV faculty was closed since November 7. It reopened on Thursday. However, Khan is still on leave. 

Chancellor backs Feroze Khan’s appointment, says students’ protest wrong.

A section of students of the university came out in support of Firoze Khan, who could not attend the university since his joining on November 7.

Having joined as Assistant Professor at Banaras Hindu University’s Sanskrit Vidya Dharam Vigyan (SVDV) 11 days ago, Firoze Khan, a doctorate in Sanskrit, has gone hiding for the past few days, switching off his mobile phone too.

In the recording, Swati Singh, Minister of State for Women’s Welfare, Child Development & Nutrition, purportedly questions DSP Beenu Singh, posted as circle officer (CO) of Lucknow’s Cantonment area, for lodging an FIR against Ansal Developers

According to a letter issued by the DIOS, five intermediate colleges and three degree colleges will serve as makeshift prisons.

College principals have raised concerns that the move may lead to delays in completing syllabus and possible closure of institutes.

The latest arrest comes hours after the BJP government in the state removed Power Secretary and Managing Director of UPPCL, Aparna U, and replaced her with M Devraj, who has returned from central deputation.

Saying Ayodhya holds a significant place for sanatan dharam followers, Adityanath said, “Where else can we find a state with such cultural and religious richness? Ayodhya has to get due recognition. This Deepotsav programme is a step in that direction.”

Samajwadi Party’s candidate, Gaurav Kumar Rawat, had joined the party two years ago and will be making his electoral debut. He owns a petrol pump in the district. According to SP district chief Aijaz Ahmad, Gaurav is considered close to party veteran Beni Prasad Verma.

Asked if Pushpendra posed enough of a threat to be killed in an encounter, police said, “The question that should be asked is whether the use of force was lawful or not and that is exactly what is being investigated.”