LPU Protest: Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara allegedly went on a rampage on the campus early Sunday, damaging property and blocking a national highway, following claims that a female student had been sexually harassed by an outsider near the university’s girls’ hostel. However, the LPU Executive Dean said anti-social elements, and not students, were behind the vandalism, describing the incident as a case of “rumour rage".

As news of the alleged incident spread, students began holding aggressive protests. Videos showing incidents ranging from arson and vandalism to people climbing onto a MiG-23 and a military tank have gone viral on social media.

Punjab Police said a rape case has been registered against an unknown person based on a complaint by students, who blocked a stretch of the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway, leading to a massive traffic jam. A special investigation team has also been formed to investigate the matter.

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What did the LPU University Dean say?

In a statement, Lovely Professional University (LPU) said there was no truth in the rumours. According to LPU University Dean Dr Saurav Lakhanpal told PTI, "This is a case of 'rumour rage'. Anti-social elements were involved in the vandalism, not students. We will fully cooperate with the police and have also formed a student committee."

The dean said that an FIR had been registered by the police following a complaint by students regarding an alleged sexual harassment case involving an outsider on the university campus.

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Meanwhile, Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor of LPU, told news agency ANI, "The police registered an FIR based on the students' allegations. All necessary support will be provided. Five students have been included in the SIT that will conduct the investigation. If the incident is found to be genuine, appropriate legal action will be taken. There were other demands as well, logistical demands, which our administration officials will sit down and discuss. I wasn't even aware of this incident..."

What Happened At LPU?

Naveen Singla, DIG, Jalandhar Range, said that a large number of LPU students blocked the National Highway at around 2 am. Their primary demand was that a girl from the G3 hostel had allegedly been raped three days earlier and that no action had been taken so far.

He said the police had received the students’ statement and initiated the process of registering an FIR, a copy of which would be provided to them shortly. The students also had other demands, including specific concerns related to the boys’ and girls’ hostels.

Regarding the FIR, Singla said the case would initially be registered against an unknown person, as the complaint stated only that a girl residing in the G3 hostel had allegedly been raped. The girl’s identity and other details are still being verified as part of the investigation.

He said the investigation would involve forensic analysis, a review of CCTV footage and examination of phone data. The probe would also be conducted in consultation with student representatives.

Singla assured that the investigation would be carried out scientifically and said a special investigation team would be formed to conduct the probe and apprehend the accused at the earliest.

Videos show LPU students damaging windows and setting fire

Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed a large number of LPU students damaging window panes and earthen flower pots and setting some objects on fire.

Protesting students could be heard saying, "We want justice."

In the purported videos, some protesters with their faces covered by handkerchiefs were seen vandalising shops in the university mall and other properties, while a few could be seen taking items from a grocery shop. Other purported videos showed a damaged ATM kiosk and some vehicles on the campus.

Traffic was diverted from the Phagwara highway stretch to the Phagwara-Jandiala road for traffic heading towards Jalandhar and via arterial roads as the blockade continued into Sunday afternoon.

Long queues of vehicles were seen on the national highway, leaving commuters stranded on the road.

The incident came a day after students of Chitkara University in Patiala held a protest. Students there had also allegedly damaged a police vehicle over unverified claims that two female students had allegedly died by suicide on the campus.

( With inputs from agencies )