LPU students clash with police during protest over alleged rape claim
Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab's Phagwara clashed with police on Sunday during protests over allegations that a female student was raped on the university campus, with the violence leaving several police personnel injured, officials said.
The students allegedly vandalised property, damaged police vehicles and blocked National Highway-44 outside the university. Police later entered the campus and said the situation had been brought under control.
A large police contingent led by Additional Director General of Police M F Farooqui was deployed at the campus. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh, DIG (Jalandhar Range) Naveen Singla and Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora were also present.
"The situation has been brought under control. Traffic movement on NH-44 will be restored soon," Singla said.
The protests began near Girls' Hostel-3 around 1 am after students alleged that a female student staying there had been raped by a plumber three days earlier. They also alleged that the hostel warden had been informed but no action was taken.
Police said an FIR has been registered against an unidentified person based on the students' complaint and a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the allegation.
Singla said the investigation would include forensic examination, analysis of CCTV footage and call records. He added that the probe would also involve student representatives.
The students claimed that the alleged victim had returned home after no action was taken on the matter.
The university, however, has denied that any rape took place on the campus and described the allegations as "rumours". LPU Registrar Monica Gulati said certain anti-social elements were spreading "false, baseless and fabricated" claims.
The university also released a video statement by three female students staying in Room No. 504 of the hostel, who said no such incident had taken place.
As the protest intensified, students blocked NH-44 outside the campus from around 8 am, causing major traffic disruption. Police said protesters later threw bottles and stones at personnel and attacked police vehicles.
Police resorted to a mild lathi charge to clear the blockade, following which the protesters moved towards the campus and allegedly continued pelting stones. Two police vehicles were set on fire, while four to five police vehicles were damaged, officials said.
Several police personnel were injured in the clashes. Additional forces were brought in from Kapurthala, Jalandhar Rural and Hoshiarpur to control the situation.
Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed students damaging window panes, flower pots, vehicles and other property on the campus. Some protesters were also seen on a decommissioned MiG-23UM aircraft and a military tank installed on the premises.
Several rounds of talks between the students and university management failed to resolve the protest. LPU Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu assured students that their genuine grievances would be addressed.
The protesters demanded that LPU Founder-Chancellor Ashok Mittal, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, meet them and give assurances on their demands. They also sought that their access to the University's Management System not be blocked and that students should not face action for participating in the protest.
LPU authorities have suspended classes for 10 days from Monday and postponed midterm examinations until further notice.
Police said the investigation into the alleged rape will determine the facts of the case.
The unrest at LPU came a day after a protest at Chitkara University in Patiala, where students allegedly set a police vehicle on fire following unverified claims that two female students had died by suicide on the campus.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring criticised the AAP government over the situation, saying students should receive "transparent, impartial and time-bound answers" to their concerns. (with inputs from PTI)
