Punjab Women Commission Steps In Over LPU Rape Allegation, Chitkara Student Death

The Punjab State Women Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of two separate incidents involving women students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) and Chitkara University, and has sought detailed reports from the district administrations concerned.

Commission Chairperson Raj Lalli Gill said the panel has asked the Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police of the relevant districts to submit comprehensive reports. The Commission has also sought copies of the FIRs and clarification on the full sequence of events in both matters.

At LPU, allegations of rape have led to protests by students against the university management. The protesting students have questioned why, in their view, the management did not act immediately after it allegedly came to know of the incident. The Commission is expected to look into the circumstances surrounding the allegations, the response of the university authorities, and the steps taken by the police and district administration.

The second case concerns a girl student at Chitkara University who was reportedly missing and was later found dead in an apparent suicide. In this matter, the Commission is expected to examine the circumstances of the incident and to seek details about the concerns and issues students reportedly faced, whether these were brought to the notice of the university management, and whether they were addressed appropriately.

The Commission has also asked for a full account of the safety and security measures in place for students. It will review the reports submitted by the respective district administrations before deciding on any further course of action.

The development comes amid growing concerns over student safety, the response of educational institutions to serious complaints, and the mechanisms available to students for raising grievances.