Humiliated college student dies by immolation, principal booked

 

By Sagaya Fernando | November 10, 2025 

Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A 20-year-old college student from Muzaffarnagar’s Budhana town died on Sunday November 9, a day after he set himself on fire on his college campus, allegedly in protest against humiliation and assault by the principal and local police over non-payment of fees.

The victim, identified as Ujjwal Rana, a second-year BA student at DAV PG College, had recorded a video on Thursday accusing the college principal, Pradeep Kumar, and three policemen of beating and humiliating him when he tried to submit his examination form despite having unpaid dues.

According to police, the incident occurred around 11.30 am on Saturday. Videos that surfaced on social media showed Ujjwal engulfed in flames as fellow students rushed to extinguish the fire. By the time they managed to douse the flames, he had suffered over 75% burns and was rushed to a local hospital before being referred to Meerut and later Delhi, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

In the video recorded two days before his death, Ujjwal alleged that the college administration refused to accept his exam form over a pending fee of ₹7,000, even though he had already paid ₹1,700.

“The principal insulted me in front of everyone, saying that ‘this college is not a dharamshala.’ He pulled my hair and beat me. When I spoke up for other students who couldn’t pay fees, the college called the police. Even the policemen abused me and pushed me out,” Ujjwal said in the video.

He ended the recording by stating that if anything happened to him, the principal and the three policemen should be held responsible.

Following his death, the Budhana police added the charge of abetment to suicide to an FIR already registered under sections of assault and criminal intimidation, based on a complaint filed by Ujjwal’s sister, Saloni.

Family members and eyewitnesses alleged that no teacher or staff member tried to save Ujjwal when he set himself ablaze and that he lay in pain for nearly half an hour before police arrived. His family and other students staged protests demanding action against the college administration.

Principal Pradeep Kumar, in his response on Friday, denied the allegations, claiming that the student had only paid ₹1,750 of his total fees.

“If he couldn’t afford the fee, he could have applied for a government scholarship. We wanted his father to visit the college and explain the situation before accepting his exam form,” Kumar said.

Ujjwal was a resident of Khakaroban village. His father, Harendra, is a sugarcane farmer who owns around 13 bighas of land. His mother had passed away a few years ago.

On Saturday evening, Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Umesh Mishra and Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Verma visited the college and ordered a thorough probe.

SP Verma said, “The matter has come to our notice. The SPRA of Muzaffarnagar is investigating the role of the police personnel accused in the case. If the probe confirms their involvement, strict action will be taken.”

Circle Officer Gajendra Pal Singh confirmed that Ujjwal had poured an inflammable liquid on himself before setting himself on fire. “Strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for instigating the student,” he added.

The tragic incident has sparked outrage in the district, with student groups and local residents demanding accountability from the college administration and police for their alleged role in pushing Ujjwal to take the extreme step.