A major controversy has erupted at Ramswaroop Memorial University in Barabanki after police allegedly lathi-charged protesting LLB students on Monday.
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A major controversy has erupted at Ramswaroop Memorial University in Barabanki after police allegedly lathi-charged protesting LLB students on Monday.
The matter has now reached Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, prompting swift administrative action. Circle Officer (CO) City Harshit Chauhan has been suspended, while Kotwali in-charge R.K. Rana and all police personnel from Gadia outpost have been removed from field duty and sent to police lines.
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The government has appointed IG Ayodhya Praveen Kumar to investigate the incident. BJP District President Arvind Maurya has criticized the police action, calling it one-sided. He has submitted a formal complaint demanding FIRs against the CO City and the Gadia outpost in-charge.
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On Tuesday, ABVP activists staged a massive protest in Lucknow against what they termed police atrocities and demanded action against both the university authorities and the police.
The protests stemmed from allegations that Ramswaroop University has not conducted examinations for LLB students for the past four years. Students claimed that the university lost its recognition in 2021, yet continued admitting students illegally.
On Monday morning, LLB students, joined by ABVP workers, began peaceful demonstrations despite heavy rain. According to students, the university administration called in the police after the crowd grew larger.
They further alleged that unidentified individuals entered the campus with the police and initiated physical clashes, following which the police resorted to a lathi-charge, leaving at least 12 students injured.
While students accuse the police of brutality, law enforcement officials claim that protesters vandalized the nearby police outpost, breaking doors and windows. “Despite several warnings, students did not stop. We had to take action to maintain order,” said a police official.
The university administration maintains that it holds online recognition for the academic session 2023–24 and insists it has not concealed any information from students or parents.
“The future of our students is not at risk,” said Vice-Chancellor Vikas Mishra. He assured that the university has submitted necessary affidavits to the Bar Council of India (BCI) and is actively pursuing updated affiliation.
Injured students were taken to the district hospital, where they were initially denied beds, sparking further outrage.
The situation escalated when angry students and their parents blocked District Magistrate (DM) Shashank Tripathi and SP Arpit Vijayvargiya from entering the hospital to meet the injured. The crowd raised slogans and demanded immediate justice.
Later that night, ABVP workers staged protests outside the DM’s residence, burned effigies, and marched to the SP office, continuing their agitation late into the night. They have vowed to continue their protest until those responsible are punished.
State Minister Satish Sharma visited the injured students in hospital and promised them justice.
Naveen, an LLB student, said, “The university stopped recognizing LLB admissions in 2022, yet continued to take money and enroll students. We were protesting peacefully when goons entered the campus and assaulted us. Then the police came and beat us mercilessly. We were innocent.”
A female BBA-LLB second-year student alleged threats from the university. “When we raised our concerns, university officials sent threatening messages to our parents, asking them to ‘control their children or their future will be ruined.’ What kind of future are they securing by hiding the truth and intimidating us?”
VC Vikas Mishra reiterated that the university had recognition until 2022–23 and currently holds online recognition for 2023–24. He added, “We have submitted an affidavit to the BCI and are making every effort to secure formal affiliation. We appeal to students to return to class peacefully. No child’s future is in danger.”
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