Uttar Pradesh Deadly student politics Even as posters and buntings are springing up in Lucknow University in preparation for the Lucknow University Student Union (LUSU) elections scheduled for end September — as in politics in India’s most populous Hindi heartland state so also in student politics — the one qualification that’s common to most candidates is criminal records which list a range of offences under the UP Gangsters & Anti Social Elements Prevention Act, 1986, the UP Control of Goondas Act, 1970 to attempted murder. For instance Bajrangi Singh, currently general secretary of LUSU and presidential candidate, is a notified gangster in the UP police records. Eight cases are pending against him for attempted murder and exploding crude bombs on the university campus. But he has the backing of the Samajwadi Party (SP) which heads the Uttar Pradesh state government. On the other hand the Akhil Bharti Vidhyarthi Parishad (student wing of the BJP) supports Vijay Singh who has three FIRs (first information reports) lodged against him under the Gangsters Act and one for attempted murder. Likewise Shiv Bhushan Singh, an incumbent LUSU vice president and another presidential hopeful, has 11 criminal cases for offences ranging from murder to rioting filed against him. But a harsh reminder of the depths to which LU’s student politics has sunk, was provided on July 20, when student leader Upendra Singh (charge-sheeted in ten criminal cases) was shot dead at point blank range in one of the university’s hostels, even as another student was critically wounded. According to police investigations, the shoot out was the result of union rivalry. The main accused, who surrendered later, was another student leader Aditya Mishra who has five criminal cases listed against him. Now Singh’s supporters are demanding that a statue be erected on the campus in recognition of his “brave struggle for student rights”. Kamal Saxena senior superintendent of police in Lucknow argues that the onus for eradicating criminal elements from LU is on the university administration. “I have given vice-chancellor Prof. S.B.Singh a list of students with criminal records urging him to expel them from the university. The real problem is in the university hostels which are occupied by all types of undesirable elements. The proctorial board must maintain a seniority list and strictly allot hostel rooms accordingly. If this is done and there’s a problem the police is always willing to support the administration.” Lucknow University’s vice-chancellor S.B.Singh on his part claims to have already issued a notification that outsiders and firearms are not allowed on the campus. Prod him on how effective the notification has been and he mumbles about “practical difficulties”. Singh should know, for his official residence transforms into a fortress at the first hint of campus trouble. Proctor V.D. Mishra however refutes allegations of intensifying campus violence. “The law and order situation is well under control and the campus offers a congenial atmosphere for serious students. The murder was a stray incident highlighted by the media. Law and order is better than…
