Phagwara, September 27: A protest at Lovely Professional University in Punjab’s Phagwara turned violent on Sunday after unverified social-media claims alleging that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. The unrest led to vandalism, arson, clashes with police and the blockade of the Jalandhar–Phagwara National Highway.
The incident began in the early hours of Sunday after messages circulated among students claiming that a woman had been raped, allegedly by an outsider. Other versions of the rumour referred to a possible suicide. Police and university authorities said they had not received confirmation of either claim, but the reports triggered anger among students who demanded immediate action and accountability.indiatoday+1
Students gathered on campus and later moved towards the highway, disrupting traffic on the important route. Property inside the university was damaged, windowpanes were smashed and objects were reportedly set on fire. Videos shared from the campus showed smoke, damaged premises and large groups of students gathered near university facilities.
The protest escalated after students refused to lift the road blockade despite repeated appeals from the administration and police. Officials said the standoff continued for several hours, with students demanding registration of a case and a transparent investigation into the allegations.
Police eventually used a lathi-charge to push back protesters. Students allegedly responded by pelting stones, injuring some police personnel and protesters. Vehicles, including police and media vehicles, were reportedly damaged, while at least one police vehicle was set ablaze, according to reports.
Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora said the police had received information about the gathering at around 1.45 a.m. He said officers were deployed after students assembled on campus and blocked a road. The official stated that the situation was brought under control, while an assessment of the property damage was under way.
Police have registered an FIR based on the statement of a student and formed a Special Investigation Team to establish the facts behind the allegations and the circulation of the claims. Authorities have not confirmed that a rape occurred, and officials have warned against treating unverified social-media posts as established facts.babushahi+1
LPU, meanwhile, rejected the allegations as “false, baseless and fabricated.” In a statement, the university said rumours were being circulated with the apparent intention of damaging its reputation. The administration urged students to remain calm and said they were safe on campus.
The episode has raised concerns about the speed with which unverified information can spread through student networks and social-media platforms. The claims travelled rapidly before investigators could verify them, creating fear and anger across the campus. The resulting violence has now become a separate law-and-order issue, involving alleged damage to public and private property and disruption of highway traffic.
The LPU unrest also comes a day after protests at Chitkara University in Patiala following unverified online claims concerning the alleged deaths of two female students. Authorities at both institutions have urged people not to share unconfirmed information, while students have demanded greater transparency from university administrations and law-enforcement agencies.hindustantimes+1
A heavy police presence has been maintained around the LPU campus, including the hostel areas, as officials work to restore normalcy. The highway blockade has affected traffic between Jalandhar and Phagwara, and further legal action is expected after investigators assess the damage and examine videos recorded during the clashes.
The SIT’s findings will determine whether the original allegations have any basis. Until then, officials have appealed for restraint, stressing that allegations involving sexual violence require a sensitive, evidence-based investigation rather than rumour-driven confrontation.
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