Phagwara: Tension prevailed at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab after unverified social media claims about a female student allegedly being gangraped or dying by suicide triggered protests, vandalism and a fire on the university campus. Police have denied finding evidence to substantiate either allegation and said no complaint related to the claims had been received.
The incident occurred late on Saturday as rumours spread among students at the university in Phagwara. The claims circulated through social media and student groups, prompting a large gathering near a girls’ hostel and eventually leading to violence on the campus.
According to a report by India Today, around 2,000 students gathered near the girls’ hostel after the alleged incident began circulating online. The protest later escalated, with students blocking a highway before returning inside the university premises and damaging property.
Rumours trigger student protest
The unrest began after different versions of an alleged incident started circulating among students. Some social media posts claimed that a female student had been gangraped, while others alleged that a student had died by suicide on campus.
Some posts also accused a worker of being involved in the purported incident. However, these claims have not been independently established.
As the rumours spread, a large number of students gathered near the girls’ hostel and demanded information about what had allegedly happened. The situation subsequently escalated into a protest involving hundreds of students.
Police said the allegations appeared to have resulted from a misunderstanding between students and the university administration.
Students block highway, damage campus property
The protest later moved beyond the immediate hostel area. Students reportedly blocked a national highway, bringing traffic to a halt for some time.
The situation then turned violent, with protesters allegedly smashing window panes and throwing bricks and flower pots. Parts of university buildings were also set on fire, according to the report.
Police teams reached the spot and intervened to clear the highway. The road has since been reopened, while authorities worked to bring the situation under control.
Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora said the protest resulted in extensive damage to university property and involved rioting and vandalism.
The police response came amid growing uncertainty among students over the claims circulating on social media.
Police find no evidence of gangrape or suicide
Authorities have said there is currently no evidence confirming either a gangrape or suicide at the university.
SSP Gaurav Toora said police had received no complaint concerning the alleged incident. He also said that officers had so far found no evidence supporting the claims being circulated among students.
According to the police, some students claimed that a girl had died by suicide, while others said that a student had been raped. The conflicting claims contributed to unrest on campus.
The police have urged that the allegations be assessed through an investigation rather than relying on unverified social media information.
The distinction is important as the claims circulating online have not been established by authorities. No identity of an alleged victim has been officially released, and no confirmed case of sexual assault or suicide connected with the protest has been reported by police.
University yet to issue detailed response
The university administration had not issued a detailed public response to the allegations at the time of the India Today report.
Police and university authorities were engaged in talks with students as efforts continued to defuse tensions on the campus.
The incident has also highlighted the speed with which unverified information can spread through student groups and social media platforms. In this case, conflicting claims about the alleged incident contributed to a large gathering before authorities could establish the facts.
Students’ concerns and any genuine complaint involving their safety would require appropriate investigation by the competent authorities. At the same time, allegations that remain unverified should not be treated as established facts.
Situation brought under control
Police said the highway had been cleared and the immediate situation brought under control. Discussions between students and the university administration were continuing as authorities attempted to resolve the matter.
The extent of property damage caused during the protest is still being assessed. Police have described the incident as involving rioting and vandalism, while investigations and efforts to establish what triggered the rumours remain underway.
The incident comes amid heightened attention to student safety and campus security following several recent protests at educational institutions in Punjab. Authorities are expected to establish the facts surrounding the LPU incident before any conclusions are drawn about the allegations circulating online.
For now, police have maintained that there is no substantiating evidence of the alleged gangrape or suicide and that no related complaint has been received. Further developments will depend on the investigation and any information that may subsequently be provided by students, the university or other authorities.