Purvanchal University Vice Chancellor Raja Ram Yadav has courted a huge controversy after urging his students to commit murder and leave it to him to take care of the matter later. His comments have come a day after a violent mob killed police constable Suresh Kumar Singh Vats in Ghazipur.

Addressing his students at a function in Ghazipur, Yadav said, “If you’re a student of this University, never come crying to me. If you ever get into a fight, beat them, if possible murder them, I’ll take care of it later.”

The video of Yadav has evoked angry reactions with many blaming his words for the collapsed law and order in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Get in to a fight, commit a murder as a result and this university VC will take care of things. This is what passes for an education in some places these days. Not surprisingly the audience even applauds his assertion.”

Similar angry reactions came from other users and activists too.

VC of Purvanchal University is asking students to commit violence, even murder, to settle quarrels. Same VC embraced CM Yogi’s ‘suggestion’ to organise Ram Kathas on the campus to teach students ‘sanskar’.

Will any channel identify him as ‘Tukde Tukde Gang’ or ‘Urban Sanghi’? https://t.co/3jb3pmS0Nu — Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) December 29, 2018

@IndiaAheadNews The Hoble VC of Purvanchal University deserves Bharat Ratna on exhorting students to violence,murder,If a rowdy sheeter had done it, he could have been sent to jail..Wah RSS,Wah! The HRD ministry would do ask Universities

to emulate this across the country. — M.Jameel Ahmed (@MJameelAhmed1) December 30, 2018

He deserves to be anything but not a Vice Chancellor or professor! Such people are the greatest tragedy of our public university system! Purvanchal University VC to students: Murder them, beat them, we’ll take care – India News https://t.co/tOx77YHUt1 — Anand Prakash Mishra (@anandpmishra) December 30, 2018

Strict action should be taken against this Person (VC Purvanchal University) .who being in such a position should teach d lesson of peace & harmony intead teaching Gunda raj to d students. @rashtrapatibhvn @PMOIndia @myogiadityanath @ravishndtv @ndtv @aajtak https://t.co/Lh9fprNjyS — S G RABBANI (@sgrabbani_ias) December 30, 2018

As a #ViceChancellor I am ashamed of VC Purvanchal University who wants his students to murder their adversaries. Is he a Vice Chancellor or a Sicilian Don ? He has defamed the institution of Vice Chancellor! — N K Tripathi (@NKTRIPATHI3) December 30, 2018

However, Uttar Pradesh Minister Sidharth Nath Singh promised action against the VC. He was quoted by news agency ANI, “It was wrong, he can’t make such comments. He should teach students the way of peace but he’s doing ‘gunda raj’, VC of such mentality has no right to stay in his position. I hope Deputy CM will take appropriate action.”

Vats was the second police officer to be killed by mob this month in Uttar Pradesh after a group of Hindutva fanatics shot dead Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh in Bulandshahr on 3 December.