BBAU hostel protest

Students at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University began a BBAU hostel protest on April 28 after a first‑year resident of Yashodhara Girls Hostel died on April 26 . They say repeated complaints about hostel food and sanitation were ignored and link the death to suspected food poisoning.

BBAU hostel protest: students' allegations and demands

Protesters said the student was a second‑semester student in the integrated BSc‑MSc programme. Residents reported finding insects in food and several cases of sickness with food‑poisoning‑type symptoms over recent months. They say they submitted complaints to wardens, the Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW) and the vice‑chancellor before taking to the streets.

In a memorandum to the vice‑chancellor students demanded an FIR against the mess contractor, the DSW and the security in‑charge, along with their resignations. They also sought compensation for the family, including a government job for one member, scrapping mandatory mess rules, ending the girls' hostel curfew and forming an independent committee of professors and students to monitor food, water and sanitation.

Students said protests began on April 28 and continued through April 30 , and that police and male security personnel used force to prevent peaceful gatherings such as candle marches.

BBAU hostel protest — administration response

University proctor Ram Chandra denied a proven link between the death and hostel food. He told reporters the student had left campus on April 20 and died in a Varanasi hospital on April 26 , adding she "was already unwell." The proctor noted that typical food‑poisoning symptoms appear within 24 hours , suggesting the timeline did not conclusively point to hostel food.

Chandra said complaints had been acted on earlier and the contractor was warned 20–25 days before the protests. He also said the proctorial team has forwarded student demands to the vice‑chancellor and would take action if any lapse is found by the contractor, DSW or wardens.

The administration denied allegations that police used force and said some protesters damaged gates and entered restricted areas, complicating crowd control.

What happens next on campus

Students say the protest will continue until their demands are met and they want no action taken against those participating. The university has said it will investigate lapses if found and improve food and drinking water facilities.

No official medical cause from a post‑mortem or forensic report has been cited publicly yet. There is also no public statement from the deceased student's family in university communications so far.

Key dates

• Student left campus: April 20
• Student died in hospital: April 26
• Protests began: April 28
• Contractor warned after complaints: around 20–25 days before the protests