Graduates in crime and politics

A criminal record. Looks like this is the sole criterion needed to become a student leader of Lucknow University. Ahead of the students&#146...

A criminal record. Looks like this is the sole criterion needed to become a student leader of Lucknow University. Ahead of the students’ union elections scheduled for September, The Indian Express ran a check on the profiles of the front-runners this year. Almost all the aspirants have been found to have a criminal background, many booked under the Gangsters Act, UP Goonda Act and for attempt to murder. One of them, in fact, may even contest from jail.

Among the list of front-runners is Bajrangi Singh ‘Bajju’, presently the general secretary and a hot favourite for the president’s seat. He has the Samajwadi Party’s support — at least, the number of his posters plastered all over the campus indicate so. Twenty-eight year old Bajju has another distinction — he is a notified gangster according to UP police records. ‘‘There are eight cases pending against him for attempt to murder and for exploding crude bombs on the campus,’’ says Sub-Inspector Vinod Singh Segar, in-charge of the LU police post. And these cases are only the ones registered for violence on the campus, and ‘‘we have to still get records of their cases elsewhere. The number will be much higher’’, Segar adds.

However, Bajju counters: ‘‘I am not a criminal. All these cases are politically motivated. None of them are personal in nature. In fact, most were registered when I led student agitations and fought for their rights. Tab sab utejna mein ho jata hai.’’

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Trailing closely behind Bajrangi is Vijay Singh ‘Tintoo’ of the ABVP. He, too, has his eyes set on the president’s chair. With his CV featuring a murder case and the Gangsters Act, Tintoo blames the SP for turning him into an ‘‘occasional trouble-maker’’. ‘‘It is the SP-backed candidates who brought the desi katta inside the campus. We have to defend the students’ rights. But most of my cases are (lodged for activities) outside the campus. I was even shot at,’’ says Tintoo, showing splinter marks on his neck.

But LU’s present vice-president Shiv Bhushan Singh, at 11 criminal cases, leads the pack. Another aspirant for the president’s seat, Singh claims ‘‘there is not even one case against me’’. Police, however, counter this with FIRs against him for attempt to murder and rioting. But he says, ‘‘Most of these cases will end in a compromise. One cannot be termed a criminal unless you are convicted by the court.’’

Dhananjay Upadhaya, another aspirant, too has six cases against him — including one under the Explosives Act and attempt to murder.

‘‘When there is student unrest, how can you expect their leaders to sit quietly?’’ asks Ram Singh Rana, who is aiming for the general secretary’s post. Rana has four cases against his name, including one for attempt to murder. ‘‘We do everything in the interest of the students,’’ he says.

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But the one who takes the cake is Vinod Tripathi who is eyeing the general secretary’s post. He is presently behind bars and has two cases of attempt to murder against him. ‘‘He might get released by next month when elections are due. Or he will contest from behind bars…he has a large following,’’ Tripathi’s supporters contend.

The increasing incidence of criminal activities on the campus came to the fore on July 20 when student leader Upendra Singh Mano was shot dead inside Habibullah hostel by Aditya Mishra. Both were aspiring for the president’s post. Mano, according to police, was a criminal himself with 10 cases against him, while Mishra, who surrendered later, has five cases against him.