Phagwara: Violent protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara escalated over the weekend after students raised allegations of sexual assault involving a female student, along with questions surrounding the death of another student from Telangana.
The allegations have not been established. Police have registered a rape case against an unidentified person and formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the claims. LPU, meanwhile, has denied that a rape took place on campus and described the reports as “false, baseless and fabricated”.
The protests, which began near a girls’ hostel, later escalated into vandalism, arson, clashes with police and a blockade of NH-44, the major highway connecting Jalandhar and Phagwara. Police said the highway remained blocked for more than 15 hours before traffic was restored.
Here are 10 key points explaining what happened at LPU.
1. What triggered the LPU protests?
The immediate trigger was a series of claims circulating among students and on social media that a female student at Girls’ Hostel-3 had allegedly been sexually assaulted by an outsider or construction worker.
Students also alleged that hostel authorities had been informed about the incident but had failed to take appropriate action.
Police subsequently registered a rape case against an unidentified person based on the complaint raised during the protests. Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said investigators would examine forensic evidence, CCTV footage, call records and other digital evidence before reaching a conclusion. Five representatives of the protesting students were also included in the investigation process, according to police.
At this stage, police have not established that the alleged assault occurred.
2. What did LPU say about the rape allegation?
LPU strongly denied the allegation and said the reports circulating on social media were rumours.
Registrar Monica Gulati said “anti-social elements” were spreading what the university described as “false, baseless and fabricated” claims in an attempt to create confusion and disturb the academic environment.
Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu also said no complaint about such an incident had come to his notice before the protests.
The university released a video featuring three female students who said they were staying in the hostel room identified in the allegations and denied that an assault had taken place there.
However, the matter became more complicated on Monday when those three students reportedly alleged that they had been instructed about what to say in the video. They also claimed that the recording had been edited and shared without their consent. These allegations are themselves yet to be independently established.
3. Why did the Telangana student’s death become part of the protests?
Students also raised questions about the death of a 21-year-old LPU student from Telangana.
The student, identified in reports as Laxmi Chandra, was a BTech Agriculture student. She died on September 10 after falling from the seventh floor of a girls’ hostel, according to reports.
Police have been investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. DIG Singla said her mobile phone had been sent for forensic examination and that her parents had visited the university.
Students raised concerns about whether there could have been any connection between the death and the allegations being discussed during the protests. However, no such connection has been established by investigators.
The circumstances surrounding Laxmi Chandra’s death therefore remain a separate matter under investigation.
4. How did the protest turn violent?
The protest began around the girls’ hostel and grew rapidly as more students gathered.
The unrest later spread across parts of the campus, with reports of damaged administrative buildings, shops and other property. Videos from the campus showed broken windows, damaged structures and objects on fire.
Some protesters climbed onto a decommissioned MiG aircraft installed on the university campus. Others were seen around military equipment displayed on the premises.
The protesters eventually moved towards NH-44 outside the university and blocked the highway, causing major disruption to traffic between Jalandhar and Phagwara.
Police said the highway blockade continued for more than 15 hours before traffic movement was restored.
5. What happened during the clash with police?
Police attempted to persuade the protesters to clear the highway. The confrontation escalated after protesters allegedly threw objects and stones at police.
Police then used a lathi charge as the situation deteriorated.
According to reports, several police vehicles were damaged and three vehicles were set on fire. Other vehicles, including two-wheelers, were also damaged. Several police personnel were injured during the clashes.
A heavy police deployment was subsequently made in and around the university.
Punjab Police officials said they initially attempted to resolve the students’ grievances through dialogue and sought to avoid using force against them.
At the same time, police said those responsible for vandalism, arson and other offences would face action based on CCTV footage and other evidence.
6. Were there reports of looting on the campus?
Yes. Videos circulating from LPU’s Uni Mall appeared to show people taking food, gadgets and other items from shops during the unrest.
Some videos also appeared to show people eating inside the mall and carrying merchandise away.
However, the footage could not independently establish the identity of everyone seen in the videos or whether they were students. The circumstances surrounding the alleged looting will therefore have to be determined separately.
Reports also said shops, an ATM kiosk and other university property were damaged during the violence.
The looting allegations added another dimension to the unrest, which had initially centred on student safety and the alleged sexual assault.
7. Did outsiders enter the university?
The presence of outsiders became another issue during the violence.
Students alleged that people from outside the university had entered the campus and contributed to the escalation. Punjab Police officials also said they were investigating the presence of people who were not regular students.
Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said police had detained several people late Saturday night after one person was found carrying a walkie-talkie. According to the police account, questioning indicated that they were army personnel sent by an army officer whose daughter was staying in a hostel.
The circumstances surrounding their presence are being examined.
The police have also said that CCTV footage and other evidence would be used to establish who was involved in the violence.
8. What were the students demanding?
Student concerns went beyond the alleged sexual assault.
One of the main demands was stronger security in girls’ hostels. Students also sought accountability from hostel authorities and wanted action if any negligence was established.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said students had demanded that only women staff should be present in girls’ hostels.
Police officials said discussions had been held with students and university representatives to address their concerns.
Students who spoke to news agencies also described fears about their safety following the violence and said some were planning to leave the campus.
The university subsequently allowed students to travel to their hometowns after consulting their parents or guardians.
9. What action has LPU taken?
LPU suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations until further notice.
Students were allowed to leave for their hometowns in consultation with parents or guardians. Those remaining on campus were advised to stay inside their hostels or residences and avoid unnecessary movement or involvement in any unrest.
The decision resulted in a large number of students leaving the university on Monday, with students travelling towards nearby bus stands and railway stations.
The university said the measures were aimed at protecting students and maintaining safety amid the unrest.
10. What is the situation at LPU now?
By Monday, police said the situation at LPU had returned to normal and traffic on NH-44 had been restored after the prolonged blockade.
A substantial police presence remained around the university gates and campus. Police officials said the hostels had also been checked after rumours of further disturbances circulated.
The administration continued to focus on maintaining campus security while students left the university following the 10-day suspension of classes.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the sexual assault allegation remains underway. The SIT is expected to examine CCTV footage, forensic material, call records and other digital evidence.
The Punjab State Women Commission has also taken suo motu cognisance of the LPU incident and sought a detailed report from officials in Kapurthala district, including information on the inquiry and FIR.
What remains unverified?
Several claims surrounding the LPU unrest remain under investigation.
Police have registered an FIR concerning the alleged rape, but the alleged assault has not been established. LPU has denied that the incident occurred and has described the allegations as fabricated.
Similarly, questions raised by students about the death of Laxmi Chandra have not resulted in a publicly established finding of foul play or a confirmed link with the sexual assault allegation.
The claims made by three students about being instructed for the university’s clarification video are also allegations that require verification.
The alleged looting and involvement of outsiders in the violence will likewise have to be established through CCTV footage, witness accounts and other evidence.
Conclusion
The LPU unrest began with unverified allegations about a female student’s alleged sexual assault and expanded into a wider confrontation over hostel safety, university administration and questions surrounding another student’s death.
The protests subsequently resulted in vandalism, arson, alleged looting, clashes with police and a prolonged blockade of NH-44. LPU has denied the sexual assault allegation, while police have registered an FIR and formed an SIT to investigate it.
With classes suspended for 10 days and students leaving the campus, the immediate situation has eased. The key questions surrounding the alleged assault, the circumstances of the Telangana student’s death and the events that led to the violence now depend on the findings of the ongoing investigations.