'College is not a dharamshala': Humiliated UP student dies by self-immolation, principal booked

A 20-year-old student in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district has died after setting himself on fire, an extreme act of protest following a dispute with his college over unpaid fees and allegations of assault and humiliation by the principal and local police.

Ujjwal Rana, a second-year BA student at DAV PG College in Budhana, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, a day after he immolated himself on the college premises. The incident, captured in disturbing videos that circulated online, showed the student engulfed in flames as fellow students rushed to douse the fire. According to sources cited by The Indian Express, he suffered over 75% burns and his clothes were completely burnt.

The tragedy stems from an incident last Thursday, which Ujjwal documented in a video protest outside the college. In the recording, he alleged that he was barred from submitting his examination form due to a pending fee of Rs 7,000, despite having paid Rs 1,700. He claimed the college principal, Pradeep Kumar, insulted him publicly.

“The principal insulted me in front of everyone, saying that ‘this college is not a dharamshala.’ He pulled my hair and beat me,” Ujjwal stated in the video. He further alleged that when he spoke up for other students unable to pay fees, the college summoned police personnel, who “abused me and pushed me out of the college.” He ended the video by saying that if anything happened to him, the principal and three policemen should be held responsible.

Eyewitnesses and family members, who are now protesting the college administration, claimed that no teacher or staff member intervened during Saturday’s self-immolation. They alleged Ujjwal lay in agony for nearly half an hour before police arrived and took him to a local hospital. Due to the severity of his burns, he was subsequently referred to hospitals in Meerut and then Delhi.

The college principal, Pradeep Kumar, had responded to the allegations on Friday as quoted by The Indian Express, “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, a resident of Khakaroban village, was the son of a sugarcane farmer. His mother passed away a few years ago.

The Budhana police had initially registered a case of assault and criminal intimidation based on a complaint filed by Ujjwal’s sister, Saloni. Following his death, the charge of abetment to suicide has been added to the case.

Senior district officials visited the college on Saturday evening and directed a thorough probe. Muzaffarnagar Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Verma confirmed that the role of the accused police personnel is under investigation. “If the investigation confirms their involvement, strict action will be taken,” SP Verma told The Indian Express.

The Circle Officer of Budhana, Gajendra Pal Singh, stated that the student had poured an inflammable liquid on himself before setting himself ablaze and promised strict action against anyone found to have instigated the student.