The Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Jalandhar saw an intense wave of protests in the early hours of Saturday after an unverified message floated on social media, claiming that a female student enrolled at the institute had allegedly been raped.

Hundreds of students attached to the university reportedly took to the streets around midnight, and the situation spiralled into vandalism at the institute. Students allegedly damaged campus property and set fire to objects at a site inside the premises before moving towards the main gate.

Later, the protestors reached the Chandigarh-Amritsar National Highway near Jalandhar-Phagwara and staged a sit-in, disrupting traffic in the area. Subsequently, the police deployed additional force in the area to bring the situation under control.

Cops find no evidence of alleged rape

Kapurthala’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Toora reached the scene after the police learnt about the unrest. According to police, the protest kicked off near the girls’ hostel after a message circulated on social media, which alleged that a female student had been raped by an outsider.

However, if police are to be believed, they claimed that no evidence supporting the allegation had been found so far. Officials said the case was under probe.

Toora told the media, “When we reached here, we came to know that there were rumours. Because of the rumours, students gathered here.” The SSP went on to say that police also spoke to students, who listed grievances regarding the university administration. Officials paid heed to their concerns and were trying to address them.

Toora said, “We spoke to students who had some issues with the LPU administration. We heard them and are trying to get them resolved. The situation is completely under control.” Continuing his account, he said that an assessment of the damage to the university property was underway and that necessary legal action would be taken on the basis of the findings.

Videos showing vandalism emerge on social media

Several videos circulating on social media showed students damaging window panes and flower pots, while some objects were being set ablaze by others. As per police, students congregated at the campus at around 1:45 am and subsequently blocked a road. The unrest later spread to the institute’s gate and the highway outside the campus.

Police personnel had been deployed in thick numbers at LPU to maintain law and order. Police officials reiterated that the situation was under control.

The incident came almost a day after students at Chitkara University in Patiala staged a protest. Students at the institute had reportedly damaged a police vehicle following unverified claims that two female students had allegedly died by suicide on the campus.

LPU junks claims of false, fabricated rumours

Meanwhile, the university has rejected the rumours making rounds on social media. University Registrar Dr Monica Gulati said several elements were spreading ‘false, baseless and fabricated’ rumours through social media and other channels, creating confusion among students and trying to disturb the university’s peaceful academic environment.

The institute alleged that the circulation of such information appeared to be a deliberate attempt to malign its reputation. Gulati said, “The University categorically clarifies that there is no truth in the rumours presently being circulated.”