A 23-year-old college student in Varanasi was shot dead by a fellow student on campus late Friday due to a personal dispute between them, police said. The incident sparked clashes within the college, with the victim's father refusing to cremate his son, demanding that the accused be killed in an encounter.
Surya Pratap Singh, a BA fourth semester student at Uday Pratap College, was shot dead at 11 am in a corridor of the social sciences faculty building. According to eyewitnesses, a fellow student, identified as Manjeet Chauhan, opened fire at close range.
The attacker allegedly fired four rounds, targeting Singh’s head and chest. He then fled towards the first floor, jumped a boundary wall, and escaped after discarding the pistol in a nearby garbage dump. Police later recovered the weapon.
Singh was first taken to a private hospital in Maldahiya and later referred to the BHU Trauma Centre, where he died during treatment.
The father of the victim broke down at the postmortem house and said the cremation would not be performed until the accused is eliminated. After a tense standoff with police, the body was taken to the family’s residence in Shivpur.
Singh was a resident of Ghazipur district and was living in Varanasi for his studies. He was described as a bright and popular student.
The only son of his parents, Rishidev Singh and Kiran Singh — both employees at Atulanand School — the victim is survived by two sisters.
The killing triggered protests, with angry students locking the main gate and vandalising property. Several vehicles were damaged, and at least three teachers were attacked. One teacher suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital under police protection.
Heavy police force was deployed as tensions escalated, and officers escorted trapped teachers and non-teaching staff out of the campus.
Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal said the shooting was the result of a personal dispute between two students. "Preliminary enquiry suggests the shooting was a result of mutual enmity between the students," Commissioner Agarwal said.
Police have registered a case against Manjeet Chauhan and his associate Anuj Thakur, who was reportedly present during the incident.
Initial investigations suggest the murder may be linked to an old rivalry or a dispute over dominance. Police are examining CCTV footage and conducting raids to trace the accused, who remains absconding.
The incident has raised serious questions about campus security, particularly how a firearm was brought inside the college.
