Rape claim sparks highway blockade, vandalism at LPU
A social-media claim of the alleged rape of a female student at Lovely Professional University (LPU), followed by rumours of her suicide, triggered violent protests on campus on Sunday, even as the university dismissed the allegations as “false, baseless and fabricated”. Police, while registering an FIR against an unidentified person, said they were verifying the claim and that so far there was no substantiating evidence to corroborate the alleged incident.
A five-member SIT headed by Phagwara SP Major Singh, with DSP Palwinder Singh, a woman police inspector and student representatives, has been constituted to investigate the matter. The probe will examine CCTV footage, phone data and other forensic and technical evidence.
The controversy, which began late Saturday night, saw students gather near the girls’ hostel before the protest spread across the campus. Property was damaged, windowpanes and other fixtures were broken and some objects were set on fire. Students later blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, causing prolonged traffic disruption and forcing diversions.
Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said students’ primary grievance related to an alleged incident involving a girl from Girls Hostel 3 around three days earlier. Police recorded a student’s statement and registered an FIR at Satnampura police station against an unknown person. The identity of the alleged victim and accused is still being verified.
Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said police had initially received information about students gathering over rumours and that no complaint regarding the alleged sexual assault had been received at that stage. Police subsequently began recording statements as students pressed for action and a probe.
LPU Registrar Dr Monica Gulati said there was “no truth in the rumours presently being circulated” and urged students, parents and the public not to believe, circulate or amplify unverified information. She said the university had learnt that “anti-social elements” were spreading misleading information in what appeared to be an attempt to malign the institution and disturb its academic environment.
Executive Dean Dr Saurav Lakhanpal described the episode as “rumour rage” and said anti-social elements, rather than students, were responsible for the vandalism. He said the university would cooperate with the police investigation and was willing to involve student representatives and show them CCTV footage.
Students, however, continued to demand a transparent probe, action against the alleged accused and stronger hostel security. They also insisted that LPU Chancellor and BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Mittal meet them before they called off the protest.
The university’s entry gates remained closed amid tension, while heavy police deployment continued on campus. The incident came a day after unrest at Chitkara University in Rajpura over separate unverified social-media claims, prompting authorities to scrutinise the circumstances surrounding both episodes.
