LPU Campus Erupts Over Unverified Rape Claim; Students Block Highway

Protests at Lovely Professional University in Punjab escalated into violence after unverified claims surfaced that a female student had been raped and had later died by suicide. The unrest began late at night and carried on into the following morning.

Videos from the campus showed a large group of students chanting slogans and demanding justice before the demonstration turned destructive. Window panes and flower pots were damaged, and some objects, including parts of a university building, were set on fire.

A section of the protesters then moved to block the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway, triggering a major traffic disruption in the area.

According to a protesting student, a female student was raped on campus by a construction worker, after which the college authorities sent her home. The student said the girl's roommate later told other students that she had died by suicide.

In a video, the student said the protests were peaceful at first, but when the university gates opened, outsiders who were not part of the college entered and created a ruckus. The student added that despite the vandalism, the authorities put out a message that everything was a rumour.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, Gaurav Toora, said the police have no information about any rape incident. He said officers learnt last night that students had blocked the Jalandhar highway and were sent to control the situation. It was then that they came to know the students had flagged certain issues with the LPU administration and that rumours of a rape case were circulating. He stated that no such crime had been reported to the police.

Toora said he spoke to the university's student bodies, which are looking into the matter. He described the situation as appearing to be a misunderstanding between the university and the students, and said efforts would be made to arrange a meeting between the two sides. An assessment of the property damage is under way, and necessary legal action will follow, he added.

In a statement to students, Lovely Professional University advised them to ignore the rumours and assured them that they were safe and secure on campus. It said the claims circulating on social media were false and misleading and were being spread by mischievous sources. Students were urged not to take part in any unrest, to remain safely inside their hostels, rooms or residences, and to avoid provocative or disruptive activities, while cooperating to keep the campus calm and orderly.