Muzaffarnagar: A second-year BA student at DAV PG Degree College in Budhana died after setting himself on fire inside a classroom on Saturday morning, allegedly following sustained humiliation and assault by the college principal over unpaid fees.
According to police, the student, in his early 20s and a resident of a nearby village, was rushed to a local hospital with over 70 percent burn injuries. He was later referred to Meerut and then Delhi due to the severity of his condition but succumbed to his injuries.
In a handwritten note, the student claimed that the principal had publicly shamed him for not paying ₹7,000 in fees, despite having already deposited ₹1,700, and had refused to accept his examination form as punishment. A video recorded by the student before the incident showed him alleging that the principal insulted him “in front of everyone,” saying, “this college is not a dharamshala,” and had “abused him, pulled his hair, and beaten him.”
He stated that if he died by suicide, the responsibility would lie with the principal, Pradeep Kumar, and three police personnel. The student said he had been subjected to repeated taunts and abuse, and was earlier denied permission to write exams despite promising to pay the remaining fees.
Videos circulating on social media showing the student engulfed in flames sparked protests outside the college, with students and locals demanding immediate action against the administration.
Based on a complaint filed by the student’s sister, the Budhana police registered a case against Principal Pradeep Kumar under sections 352 (assault) and 351(3) (threat causing serious harm) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The roles of the three police personnel named in the student’s note are also under investigation.
District Magistrate Umesh Mishra and SSP Sanjai Kumar Verma visited the college on Saturday evening and ordered a detailed inquiry. Muzaffarnagar SP Sanjai Kumar said the investigation is ongoing and assured strict action against those found guilty.