Muzaffarnagar: A shocking incident from Muzaffarnagar’s Budhana town has stirred outrage across Uttar Pradesh after a 20-year-old student, Ujjwal Rana, died a day after allegedly setting himself on fire inside his college premises. The second-year B.A. student of DAV PG College reportedly took the extreme step after he was publicly humiliated and beaten by the college principal, physical training instructor (PTI), and three policemen over non-payment of fees worth just ₹7,000.
According to reports, the incident took place around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, when Ujjwal was allegedly barred from appearing in his examination due to pending fees. In a purported video recorded two days before his death, Ujjwal accused the college principal, Pradeep Kumar, and three police personnel of assaulting and humiliating him, saying their continuous taunts pushed him to the brink.
In the video, Ujjwal can be heard describing how he was beaten, insulted, and told that the college was “not his father’s dharamshala.” The video went viral shortly after his self-immolation, drawing widespread condemnation from students and locals.
His sister, Saloni Rana, who later filed the police complaint, revealed horrifying details about the sequence of events. According to her, Ujjwal had merely requested the principal for an extension to pay his fees, but instead of understanding his situation, Pradeep Kumar allegedly insulted him, saying, “This college isn’t your father’s dharamshala.” He then pushed Ujjwal out of the office and allegedly instructed PTI Sanjeev Kumar to beat him.
Saloni further alleged that when Ujjwal cried out in pain, the principal called the police. Upon arriving, Sub-Inspector Nand Kishore and constables Gyanveer and Vineet Kumar allegedly joined in, verbally abusing and assaulting the student. They reportedly told him, “We’ll send you to jail. This college isn’t your family’s inn.” The repeated humiliation, Saloni said, completely broke her brother.
In her statement, she added that when Ujjwal warned that he would end his life, the principal and PTI mocked him, allegedly saying, “If you plan to do it tomorrow, do it today.” Enraged and emotionally shattered, Ujjwal reportedly poured petrol on himself and set himself ablaze near the college building.
Videos that surfaced on social media show Ujjwal engulfed in flames as fellow students rushed to save him. Witnesses claim that the principal and PTI shouted threats that anyone who tried to rescue him would be rusticated. Despite this, some students courageously attempted to help, sustaining burns on their hands and belongings.
Ujjwal suffered severe burns across his body and was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning.
Following his death, massive protests erupted in Budhana. Members of the Jat Mahasabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) gathered outside DAV College and later staged a dharna at the Budhana police station, demanding justice for the victim. The outrage soon spread across the district as several social organizations joined the demonstrations.
The anger has also spilled over onto social media. On Twitter (X), thousands of users are expressing solidarity with Ujjwal’s family using the hashtag #GCLivesMatter, which has become a trending topic in India. Many are demanding strict action against the accused and systemic reforms in educational institutions to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Based on Saloni’s complaint, police have registered a case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR names six individuals — College Manager Arvind Kumar Garg, Principal Pradeep Kumar, PTI Sanjeev Kumar, and the three policemen involved. The accused officers have reportedly been sent to police lines, while further investigation is underway.
Sources reveal that Principal Pradeep Kumar has been associated with DAV College for nearly 19 years, having previously served as a sociology lecturer. Locals allege that he is politically well-connected and enjoys protection due to his proximity to former MLA Sangeet Som. They claim that this influence has allowed him to act with impunity for years without facing disciplinary action.
