Student barred from exam hall kills self

College allegedly stopped Virendra as his father failed to pay Rs 5000 donation; students go on rampage
AMAN SHARMA

Posted online: Saturday, May 28, 2005 at 0000 hours IST

LUCKNOW, MAY 27: Students of a government-aided college in Jaunpur went on a rampage today after their classmate committed suicide on the campus for allegedly not being allowed to sit for an examination.

According to an FIR filed with the Line Bazaar police, the college authorities had demanded Rs 5,000 as donation from Virendra Kumar Pandey, 26, and refused to let him sit for the B Pharma examinations when his father failed to pay the sum. Virendra, his classmates say, left the examination hall crying and his body was later found near the college gate.

A case of abetment to suicide, under Section 306 of the IPC, has been filed against the institute’s chairman, B.P. Yadav, on the basis of a complaint by the deceased’s brother.

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, Ripendra Kumar alleged that the greed of the college management forced his brother to commit suicide. ‘‘We had paid Rs 80,000 as fees to the Prasad Institute of Technology. However, the management insisted on Rs 5,000 as donation. Finally, they threatened Virendra that he will not be allowed to sit for the exams if we did not pay the sum,’’ said Ripendra. His father Umesh Chand Pandey is a poor farmer from Motipur village in Kushinagar district.

The college authorities had also barred Virendra from appearing for the first test on May 24. ‘‘But the management changed its mind on the assurance that my father would pay the money in two days,’’ said Ripendra.

On May 26, Umesh Chand did come to Jaunpur but with only Rs 3,000, that too after taking a loan, said Ripendra.

‘‘The institute’s chairman, B.P. Yadav, rebuked my father for bringing only Rs 3,000. He humiliated my father when he fell at his feet, pleading not to play with Virendra’s career. The chairman kept the money and then pushed my father out of his office, saying he must pay the remaining Rs 2,000 today,’’ said Ripendra.

Virendra’s classmate Harish Yadav said, ‘‘the teacher sent him (Virendra) away when he came to the examination hall today, saying he hadn’t paid the donation and so will not be allowed for the exam. He left the room crying.’’

Virendra’s body was found half-an-hour later near the college gate. He had consumed some poisonous substance.

Irate students then went on a rampage, breaking furniture and pelting stones at the college office. The vehicle belonging to the chairman was smashed and the students later blocked the Azamgarh-Jaunpur highway for hours. The local police had to intervene to bring the situation under control.

When contacted, Yadav denied having demanded any donation. ‘‘The student only had Rs 5,000 pending as his annual fee. We were demanding the same as per rules,’’ he added.