Phagwara (HRNW)- Student protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, turned violent after allegations circulated on social media that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. Police and university officials said the allegation had not initially been verified, while authorities launched an investigation into the claims.
The protests began near the girls’ hostel before large numbers of students gathered and moved toward the university entrance. Demonstrators reportedly damaged university property, set some objects and vehicles on fire, and blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, disrupting traffic.
Police intervened as tensions escalated, with reports of clashes between students and law-enforcement personnel. Several police vehicles were set ablaze, and officials said some personnel were injured during the unrest.
The university has rejected the sexual-assault allegation as baseless and described the incident as stemming from unverified rumours. Police, however, registered a case against an unidentified person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations and circumstances surrounding the protests.
Following the unrest, LPU suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed its mid-term examinations until further notice. Students were also advised to remain in their accommodations and avoid further disturbances.
The incident has prompted renewed discussion about student safety, institutional communication, and the spread of unverified information on social media. Authorities are continuing their investigation to establish the facts surrounding the allegations and the subsequent violence.
The protests have also drawn attention to wider concerns over women’s safety and law-enforcement responses to allegations of sexual violence in India, although claims linking the specific incident to broader government policies remain matters of political interpretation rather than established findings.
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