2 hrs ago
LPU Suspends Classes After Violent Campus Unrest in Phagwara
Lovely Professional University in Phagwara became unsafe after violent disturbances on campus.
The university stopped classes for 10 days and postponed mid-term exams.
Students and parents said people from outside the university entered the campus and attacked people and buildings.
Some students said the trouble may have started after a rumour about a girl student.
Other students said they could not confirm whether that report was true.
Students described hiding, fires, damaged property and attacks near the girls’ hostel.
Police registered a case and created a team to investigate.
The police chief said the violence began after rumours and that officers worked to address students’ concerns.
Lovely Professional University suspended classes for 10 days and deferred mid-term examinations after campus violence.
Students and parents alleged that outsiders entered the campus, attacked students, damaged property and entered the girls’ hostel.
Some students linked the unrest to an alleged rape, but others said they did not know whether the claim was true.
Students described masked or armed people, arson and attacks during two nights, while saying daytime conditions were calmer.
Police registered an FIR and formed a Special Investigation Team; Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the violence followed rumours.
- Who
- Lovely Professional University students and parents, alleged outsiders, university officials and Punjab Police.
- What
- Violence and unrest occurred on the LPU campus, prompting a 10-day class suspension, examination postponement, an FIR and a Special Investigation Team.
- Where
- Lovely Professional University campus in Phagwara, Punjab.
- When
- The violence occurred during the intervening night of September 26-27 and reportedly escalated the following night; classes were then suspended for 10 days.
- Why
- Students attributed the unrest to an alleged rape report, while Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said it began over rumours and student grievances against the university administration.
Student and Parent Accounts
Police and Official Account
Cause of the unrest
Student and Parent Accounts
Students said an alleged rape of a girl student triggered the violence, though some acknowledged they could not verify whether the report was true.
Police and Official Account
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the violence broke out over rumours and that police worked to address students’ grievances against the university administration.
Who carried out the violence
Student and Parent Accounts
Students and a parent said outsiders entered the campus, attacked students, damaged property and entered the girls’ hostel; they said the attackers were not LPU students.
Police and Official Account
The article reports the police response and investigation but does not provide a definitive police statement identifying the perpetrators.
Scale and conditions
Student and Parent Accounts
Students described hundreds or possibly 2,000 to 3,000 people running amok, with fires, attacks and vandalism at night; they said conditions were calmer during the day.
Police and Official Account
Police teams were deployed after the violence began, and authorities said efforts were made to restore control and address complaints.
Key facts
- Institution
- Lovely Professional University
- Location
- Phagwara, Punjab
- Academic action
- Classes suspended for 10 days; mid-term examinations deferred until further notice
- Reported violence
- Students described attacks, arson, property damage and entry into the girls’ hostel
- Police action
- An FIR was lodged and a Special Investigation Team was formed
- Police account
- Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the violence broke out over rumours
- Student account
- Several students said alleged outsiders, rather than LPU students, caused the violence
Quotes
Manoj Kumar
Parent from Haryana whose three children study at LPU
“The children said that they couldn’t sleep last night. By morning, the situation was under control. However, the next day, the situation escalated as outsiders ventured into the campus and started beating up students, misbehaving with girl students, also forcefully entered the girls’ hostel.”
thehansindia.com
“Many men from outside the campus, drunk and armed with canes and rods came inside and vandalised the campus and its property.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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