UP student 'humiliated' over unpaid fee self-immolates; principal booked
What's the story
A 20-year-old student of DAV PG College in Muzaffarnagar's Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, died on Sunday after setting himself on fire. On Saturday, around 11:30am, Ujjwal Rana attempted self-immolation on the college premises. Disturbing videos of the incident show other students trying to extinguish the flames engulfing him. He suffered over 75% burns, and his clothes were completely charred.
Protest details
Principal insulted me, denied exam form submission: Ujjwal in video
The tragedy was preceded by a video protest recorded by Rana on Thursday. In the video, he alleged that he was denied submission of his examination form over an unpaid fee of ₹7,000. He claimed to have paid ₹1,700 but was publicly insulted by college principal Pradeep Kumar. "The principal insulted me in front of everyone... He pulled my hair and beat me," Ujjwal said in the video.
College response
Eyewitnesses, family members allege no teacher intervened
In the video, Rana said, "When I spoke up for students... Even the policemen abused me and pushed me out of the college." Eyewitnesses and family members alleged that Rana lay in pain for nearly half an hour before police arrived. Principal Kumar responded to these allegations on Friday, saying, "The boy paid only ₹1,750 of the total fee... If he couldn't afford the fee, he could have applied for a government scholarship."
Legal proceedings
Abetment to suicide charges added against accused
After Rana's death, a case of abetment to suicide was added to the initial charges of assault and criminal intimidation filed by his sister, Saloni. Senior district officials visited the college on Saturday evening for a thorough investigation. Muzaffarnagar Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Verma confirmed that the role of the accused police personnel is being probed, The Indian Express reported. Circle Officer Gajendra Pal Singh said strict action would be taken against anyone involved in instigating Rana.