Two BJP IT Cell Members Arrested for Gangrape of IIT-BHU Student in Varanasi

VARANASI: The police in Varanasi have arrested three individuals, including two members of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) IT cell, for their alleged involvement in the gangrape of a 20-year-old BTech student from IIT-BHU. The incident took place on November 2 on the campus, and the arrested individuals have confessed to the crime.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Kunal Pandey, Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan, and Saksham Patel. Kunal Pandey is the convenor of the BJP IT cell’s city unit, while Saksham Patel serves as its co-convenor.

The gangrape took place in the early hours of November 2 when the survivor was out for a walk near her hostel. She was accompanied by a male friend from the same institute when they were approached by the accused on a motorbike. The survivor was forcibly separated from her friend, taken to a secluded area, and assaulted at gunpoint. The accused also filmed the survivor during the assault.

The arrest of the two BJP IT cell members has sparked controversy and political debates. Social media platforms were flooded with screenshots of the accused individuals’ Facebook pages, where they mentioned their positions in the BJP IT cell. The revelation has led to accusations against the saffron party, with the Samajwadi Party’s spokesperson, Manoj Rai Dhupchandi, accusing the BJP of harboring rapists.

The police have seized the motorbike and mobile phone used in the crime, along with other electronic evidence. The arrested individuals could face charges under the National Security Act and the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act.

Following the survivor’s complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 354B (use of criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 66E of the IT Act. Additional charges of gangrape and outraging a woman’s modesty were added after the survivor’s statement was recorded before a magistrate.

The incident has caused an uproar on the IIT-BHU campus, with thousands of students participating in a sit-in protest that lasted for several days. The delay in the arrest of the accused led to further demonstrations by the students near the office of the institute’s director.

The police are currently investigating the criminal history of the arrested individuals, if any, and are gathering further evidence related to the incident.