8 hrs ago
LPU Protests Turn Violent as University’s ‘Lovely’ History Emerges
Students at Lovely Professional University began protesting after reports of a sexual assault involving a female student spread on campus.
The protest started near the girls’ hostel and later moved toward the main gate.
It became violent when property was damaged, vehicles were set on fire and police were hit by stones, according to police.
Students also blocked a major highway outside the university.
Police used a lathi charge to clear the road.
The university then suspended classes for 10 days and postponed exams.
LPU was created in 2005 under a law passed by Punjab’s legislature.
Its name came from Lovely Sweets, a shop started by Baldev Raj Mittal in 1961.
The Mittal family later expanded into automobiles, colleges and the university.
Protests began near LPU’s girls’ hostel after reports of a sexual assault involving a female student circulated.
The demonstrations escalated, with police reporting damaged vehicles, arson, stone-pelting and injuries to officers.
Students blocked NH-44 outside the university, causing major traffic disruption before police cleared the road using a lathi charge.
LPU suspended classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed midterm examinations indefinitely.
The university was established in 2005 after the Mittal family expanded from sweets into automobiles and education.
- Who
- Students of Lovely Professional University, police personnel and the Mittal family associated with the university.
- What
- A campus protest over a reported sexual assault became violent, while the university’s origins and business history were also examined.
- Where
- Lovely Professional University in Punjab, near Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway 44.
- When
- The protest began late on September 26 and escalated on September 27; classes were suspended from September 28. The university was established in 2005.
- Why
- Students were protesting reports of a sexual assault involving a female student; the university’s history is linked to the Mittal family’s expansion from sweets into education.
Student Protesters
Police Account
Reason for the demonstration
Student Protesters
Students gathered to protest reports of a sexual assault involving a female student and demanded attention to the incident.
Police Account
Police were responding to a protest that had spread from the campus to NH-44 and disrupted traffic.
Escalation and force
Student Protesters
The protest became a confrontation after students gathered at the main gate and later blocked the highway; the article does not provide a detailed student account of the clashes.
Police Account
Police said protesters damaged vehicles, set at least two vehicles on fire, pelted officers with stones and water bottles, and injured several personnel; officers used a lathi charge to clear the blockade.
Key facts
- Protest trigger
- Reports of a sexual assault involving a female student
- Protest start
- Late on September 26 near the girls’ hostel
- Reported damage
- Four to five police vehicles were damaged and at least two were set on fire, according to police
- Highway affected
- NH-44 was blocked from around 4 am on September 27
- University response
- Classes were suspended for 10 days from September 28, and midterm examinations were postponed
- University established
- The Lovely Professional University Act was passed in 2005, and the first academic session began in 2006
- Original business
- Baldev Raj Mittal opened Lovely Sweets in Jalandhar Cantt in 1961
Sources
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