6 hrs ago
LPU Violence Prompts Punjab Probe as Students Fear Outsiders
Violence broke out at Lovely Professional University after reports of a sexual assault spread.
The university said the reports were baseless and fabricated.
Police still registered a case against an unknown person and began investigating.
Early inquiries did not confirm that the assault happened.
Students protested and asked for safer hostels and more accountability.
Some students said they were especially worried about outsiders entering the campus.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered the police to take strict action against anyone responsible for violence.
Classes were stopped for 10 days, and many students began leaving.
Police increased security around the university.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered strict action after violence at LPU.
Police registered a rape case over an allegation the university called fabricated.
Preliminary police inquiries did not establish that the alleged sexual assault occurred.
Students demanded stronger hostel security, accountability and safeguards against outsiders.
Classes were suspended for 10 days, while more than 2,000 police were deployed.
- Who
- Lovely Professional University students, university officials, Punjab authorities and police, including Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav.
- What
- Protests over an unverified sexual-assault allegation turned violent, prompting a police investigation and action against vandalism and arson.
- Where
- Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab.
- When
- Violence erupted on Sunday; students began leaving after classes were suspended for 10 days on Monday.
- Why
- Students sought justice and stronger campus safety measures after reports of an alleged assault, while authorities responded to the resulting violence and security concerns.
Students and protesters
University and authorities
What happened
Students and protesters
Protesters demanded justice for the alleged victim and action against anyone responsible, while saying participants should not be punished for protesting.
University and authorities
The university called the sexual-assault reports baseless and fabricated; police said preliminary inquiries did not establish the allegation.
Campus safety
Students and protesters
Students demanded stronger girls’ hostel security, no male staff in residential areas, greater hostel-official accountability and protection from outsiders.
University and authorities
The university said students could remain in hostels, advised them to avoid unnecessary movement and expressed concern about outsiders entering the campus; security was increased.
Response to violence
Students and protesters
Students and departing residents said outsiders during Sunday’s unrest heightened their fear and that the university should prevent unauthorized entry.
University and authorities
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered strict action against vandalism and arson, while DGP Gaurav Yadav said police would act according to law and had initially avoided using force against protesters.
Key facts
- University
- Lovely Professional University, with more than 35,000 students from India and abroad.
- Allegation
- Unverified reports alleged that an outsider sexually assaulted a student on campus.
- Police case
- Police registered a rape case against an unknown person and formed a Special Investigation Team.
- Preliminary findings
- Senior police officers said they could not establish the allegation initially; three girls in the hostel room denied that an assault occurred.
- Classes
- The university suspended classes for 10 days.
- Security deployment
- More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed on and around the campus, alongside a flag march.
- Detention
- Sources said an outsider was detained after allegedly being found with a walkie-talkie and a weapon.
Quotes
A student from the Northeast
An LPU student leaving campus after the unrest
“I could have stayed in the hostel, but after what happened yesterday, I don’t feel safe. I am not scared of the students who were protesting. I am worried about people coming from outside and taking advantage of the situation.”
indianexpress.com
“The university should ensure that outsiders are not allowed to enter the campus. They are not concerned about the safety of the students.”
indianexpress.com
A senior police officer
A police officer involved in the preliminary investigation
“The three girls present in the hostel room where the sexual assault is alleged to have occurred denied that any such incident took place.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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