‘Humiliated, beaten’: UP college student who set himself ablaze dies, principal booked

The Budhana police, under whose jurisdiction the college falls, had registered a case related to assault and criminal intimidation based on a complaint filed by Ujjwal’s sister, Saloni, against the college principal. Police said the charge of abetment to suicide has now been added following the student’s death.

The incident took place at 11.30 am on Saturday. Purported videos, which surfaced on social media, showed Ujjwal engulfed in flames as other students rushed to help. By the time they managed to douse the flames, sources said Ujjwal had suffered extensive burns, his clothes were completely burnt, and his skin had turned black.

He had suffered over 75% burns and was referred to a hospital in Delhi.

Speaking to the media, eyewitnesses and family members, who are protesting against the college administration, alleged that no teacher or staff member intervened to save Ujjwal and that he lay in pain for nearly half an hour before police arrived and took him to the hospital.

Ujjwal was first taken to a local hospital, then referred to Meerut, and later to Delhi due to the severity of his burns.

In the video that Ujjwal had made while protesting outside the college on Thursday, he claimed he had managed to pay part of the fee — Rs 1,700 — but the remaining Rs 7,000 was pending.

“They refused to submit my examination form. The principal insulted me in front of everyone, saying that ‘this college is not a dharamshala.’ He pulled my hair and beat me. When I spoke up for students who couldn’t pay fees, the college called the police. Even the policemen abused me and pushed me out of the college,” he alleged in the video.

He had also said if anything were to happen to him, the principal and three policemen should be held responsible.

Responding to the video on Friday, Principal Pradeep Kumar had claimed, “The boy paid only Rs 1,750 of the total fee… If he couldn’t afford the fee, he could have applied for a government scholarship… We want his father to visit the college and explain the situation before we can accept his exam form.”

Ujjwal was a resident of Khakaroban village. His father, Harendra, is a farmer who owns about 13 bighas of land where he cultivates sugarcane. His mother passed away a few years ago.

On Saturday evening, Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Umesh Mishra and Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Verma had visited the college and directed officials to probe the incident thoroughly.

Responding to allegations of police assault, SP Verma told The Indian Express, “The matter has come to our notice. The SPRA of Muzaffarnagar is probing the role of the police personnel who have been accused in the matter. If the investigation confirms their involvement, strict action will be taken.”

Circle Officer, Budhana, Gajendra Pal Singh said, “We received the complaint at 1 pm on Saturday. The student had poured an inflammable liquid on himself before setting himself ablaze. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in instigating the student.”