In a recent incident at Shri Ram Swaroop Memorial University in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, tension escalated when university students and ABVP workers protested over alleged issues with law course admissions. The protest turned violent, leading to police lathi charges and injuries to over 25 people.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath quickly responded to the situation. He took action against the officer involved in the crackdown, removing Circle Officer Harshit Chauhan from his post. The investigation has now been handed over to IG Praveen Kumar of the Ayodhya Range.
The protest started on Monday when students and ABVP members claimed the university was still accepting applications for its LLB course, even though its recognition had been canceled. They also accused the university of offering a law degree that isn’t approved by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
During the demonstration, clashes broke out between protesters and police, resulting in a forceful police lathi-charge. Police mentioned they tried to calm the crowd initially, but when the situation got unruly, they had to take strong action. The police also said they were called in by university authorities, who branded the protesters as “outsiders.”
ABVP leader Pushpendra Bajpai pointed out that the university had been misguiding students about its BCI recognition since 2022. He expressed concern that the future of law students was at risk. Bajpai also accused the Vice Chancellor of expelling two students, Adarsh Pandey and Abhay Ram Tripathi, when they demanded answers. He added that instead of a dialogue, the university called police to suppress the protest.
Bajpai announced plans to hold a protest march in Hazratganj on Tuesday to oppose police action and demand justice for the injured students.
On the other hand, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Vikas Mishra, clarified that the university was not involved in the clash. He stated that the conflict was between local residents and ABVP workers, not university staff. Mishra also mentioned that two students had been expelled earlier for indiscipline and expressed sympathy for those injured during the police action.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about university recognition, student safety, and the role of student organizations in UP. Police investigations are underway to determine the full details of the clash and ensure safety for everyone involved.
