U.P. government orders probe into lathi charge on ABVP activists in Barabanki, CO removed

Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) took cognizance of the lathi charge on the workers of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at Shri Ram Swaroop Memorial University in Barabanki and removed Circle Officer (CO) Harshit Chauhan from his post and handed over the investigation of the incident to Inspector General (IG) Ayodhya Range Praveen Kumar. U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued directions to authorities to take action in the matter.

The incident happened on Monday (September 1, 2025) when ABVP workers and students staged a protest at the university, alleging that the university is accepting admissions in LLB course even after its recognition was cancelled.

The ABVP accused the university of multiple transgressions that jeopardize students’ futures. Key among these are the ongoing deception since 2022 about the law degree’s BCI recognition, the unconstitutional expulsion of students, the imposition of exorbitant and arbitrary fines for late fees and the administration’s opposition to a student-led ‘Tiranga Yatra’ on August 15th. Amid the protest, the police lathi-charged the students and ABVP workers with 25 people getting injured.

The University administration, however, termed the protesters as “outsiders”.

The ABVP said the demonstration highlighted issues of student harassment, arbitrary fees and the questionable recognition of institution’s law degree.

“The issue turned confrontational when the university administration allegedly deployed police forces, who then lathi-charged the peacefully protesting students as they sought a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor,” reads a statement by the ABVP.