Lucknow: Hours after Lucknow University suspended five students for alleged indiscipline during a Youth Parliament held at AP Sen Hall on Sept 9, fresh unrest erupted on campus on Wednesday when one of the suspended students, Divyansh Awasthi, allegedly climbed to the first floor of the proctor’s office and threatened to jump.Awasthi, a BA third-year student, was brought down after a crowd of students assembled outside the office and urged him to step back. He alleged he had been falsely implicated and claimed that among the five suspended students, he was the only one against whom an FIR had been registered.Police said the FIR was lodged at Hasanganj police station on the complaint of a female student who attended the Youth Parliament. The case includes allegations of rioting and intentional insult, and names Awasthi.The episode triggered further tension on campus, with a group of students claiming affiliation to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) extending support to Awasthi, who is also described as an ABVP member. The group allegedly went to the ongoing Gomti Book Festival being held on the university campus and tore and burnt festival banners and posters.The vandalism allegedly continued into the evening. Supporters later gathered at the academic block and demanded the university revoke the suspension orders.Tension also prevailed outside the proctor’s office as university officials attempted to disperse the crowd. During the commotion, proctor Rakesh Dwivedi was allegedly manhandled.The university earlier issued an order suspending Awasthi, Anurag Kumar Yadav alias Anurag Chaudhary, Nitin Pandey, Sharad Mishra and Akhilesh Pratap Yadav with immediate effect. Four are BA (NEP) third-year students, while Mishra is pursuing an MA in Political Science.The university said the students acted “contrary to student decorum”, citing an interim report and recommendations of Internal Complaints Committee, approved on Sept 15.Youth Parliament, organised by ‘Yuva Rashtra’, drew participants from LU hostels and other colleges. Trouble reportedly began during prize distribution after objections were raised over results. Some female students later alleged indecent behaviour, unwanted physical contact and abusive or objectionable remarks, following which a written complaint was submitted to the registrar.The five students have been given three working days to submit written explanations and appear before authorities. The suspension bars them from entering the main campus and using university facilities, and provides for cancellation of hostel accommodation if allotted. The university said proceedings are not final and further action will follow after considering the responses.
