Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh: In a shocking incident on Monday night, students aspiring for a bright future through legal education were met with brutal lathi-charge outside the District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) residence in Barabanki. The students, associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), were protesting against Ramswaroop University Barabanki, which allegedly admitted them into the LLB program without having proper recognition from the Bar Council of India (BCI).
Students Beaten Instead of Heard
According to eyewitnesses, the protesting students were demanding answers regarding their future, after realizing that the university lacked approval to run the LLB course. Instead of dialogue, they were met with police brutality in the dead of night. Videos and accounts from the protest reveal how students were mercilessly beaten with lathis, leaving many injured and humiliated.
Leaders from ABVP recalled that never before, under any government — be it Samajwadi Party or Bahujan Samaj Party — had students faced such violent suppression. Past governments often held dialogue with student organizations before taking any action, but the current administration allegedly chose force over discussion.
University Accused of Academic Fraud
The bigger question haunting parents and students is how Ramswaroop University admitted hundreds of students into an unrecognized LLB course, collecting fees and wasting an entire academic year. Reports suggest that the students were misled and enrolled despite the absence of mandatory approval.
“First they cheated us by giving admission without recognition, and when we demanded justice, they got us beaten,” said one of the protesting students.
Calls for Strong Action Against Management
There is growing anger among parents, students, and political leaders demanding strict action against Ramswaroop University’s management, directors, and owners. They allege that the university has openly played with the future of hundreds of aspiring lawyers and should face legal consequences including arrest.
Political observers point out that if such a fraud had been committed by an institution linked to the opposition, immediate FIRs and arrests would already have been made. The delay in action against Ramswaroop University has raised serious questions about administrative bias.
Leaders Respond, But Justice Awaits
Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leaders have acknowledged the police excesses during the protest. Even local leaders including state minister Satish Sharma have admitted the lathi-charge was excessive and unfortunate. However, students and parents remain skeptical until concrete steps are taken against the university administration.
What Lies Ahead?
The incident has triggered a larger debate about the commercialization of education in Uttar Pradesh. If universities are allowed to run unapproved courses, students’ futures will continue to be jeopardized. The Barabanki episode highlights the urgent need for transparent checks on private universities and accountability from both state authorities and regulatory bodies.
As the matter unfolds, all eyes are on the government and judiciary to see whether Ramswaroop University will be held accountable for this academic fraud and whether justice will be delivered to the students whose futures are now hanging in uncertainty.