Punjab Police on Wednesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified students and several others in connection with the blockade of the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway, while they were staging protests at the Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, officials said.

The FIR was registered at the Sadar Phagwara police station in Punjab’s Kapurthala district, which does not name individuals specifically, and the accused have been listed as ‘unknown.’ The cops have invoked Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 88 of the National Highways Act.

Highway blockade brings traffic to a standstill

As per the FIR, the students enrolled at LPU blocked both carriageways of the national highway at Chaheru, which is located around 11 km west of Sadar Phagwara Police station. The agitators blocked the highway at around 2 am on September 28 and continued with the blockade until 5:18 am, bringing traffic in both directions to a halt.

The FIR further read that the disruption severely affected the movement of the commoners along the busy highway. Senior police officials rushed to the scene and tried to persuade the protestors into clearing the road. However, the swarm of people remained adamant and refused to lift the blockade.

Police also alleged that unidentified non-students were among the ones participating in the stir. According to the FIR, the demonstration was videographed and action shall be taken against the people identified from the footage.

Assistant sub-inspector Rohitdeep lodged the complaint, and has also been entrusted with probing the case. The FIR was registered after police received a call from the control room regarding the blockade.

Protests erupted after rumours of sexual assault

The highway blockade was part of a wider protest which ensued at LPU after allegations of a female student being sexually assaulted on the campus premises surfaced. The university, however, has denied the allegation, calling the claims false, fabricated and baseless. Meanwhile, the police have registered a separate FIR against an unidentified person pertaining to the sexual assault allegation and have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

The protests spiralled into violence on September 27, with reports of vandalism, damage to university property and clashes between police and agitators making it to the headlines. Police vehicles had also been damaged, with some allegedly set ablaze.

Classes suspended amid unrest

Notably, the NH-44 blockade resulted in significant disruption along the Phagwara-Jalandhar stretch, forcing commuters to take alternative routes. After stepping in, the cops played a key role in restoring traffic movement and said the situation was under control.

A still from the protests which unfolded at LPU

In the thick of the unrest, the institute suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and also deferred its mid-term examinations. Moreover, the students residing in campus hostels were advised to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement.