Another Punjab University Rocked By ‘Rape-Suicide’ Protests; Buildings Set Ablaze, Highway Blocked

Violent protests erupted at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar late Saturday after unverified reports of a rape and suicide circulated on social media, a day after similar claims triggered unrest at Chitkara University in Patiala.

Protesting students damaged university property, smashed window panes and set parts of buildings on fire. They also blocked the Delhi-Amritsar national highway outside the campus around 4am, demanding that an FIR be registered against the alleged accused.

The university, however, initially dismissed the rape-suicide claims and accused “anti-social elements” of spreading rumours to create confusion and disrupt the campus environment.

Girl Allegedly Raped Three Days Ago: Police

On Sunday, DIG Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla said a female student staying at LPU’s G-3 hostel was allegedly raped three days ago and that police had begun the process of registering an FIR.

Singla said the preliminary investigation established that the alleged incident took place three days earlier and that the student had since returned home.

“We have recorded the statement and the process of registering a FIR under required sections. The matter will be thoroughly investigated as all the digital and technical evidences will be taken into record,” Singla said.

He said the investigation would be conducted scientifically and that representatives of the students’ union would also be involved.

Students also raised concerns about a Telangana student who allegedly died by suicide on the university campus around two weeks ago. Police had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after recording statements from the student’s family.

“On the demands of the students, we have also initiated probe into this matter too,” Singla said.

Students also raised concerns over facilities and other issues at the university’s boys’ and girls’ hostels. A meeting involving student representatives and the university management was scheduled for noon to discuss their demands.

Police Deployed From Three Districts

Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said police teams from Jalandhar Rural, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala were deployed after the control room received information about a law-and-order situation around 2am.

He said students damaged university property during the unrest and that further action would be taken after an assessment of the damage.

“The situation is under control as we have resumed vehicular traffic on the national highway,” Toora said, adding that police and civil authorities were in communication with the university management.

According to Toora, the protests were initially triggered by rumours alleging that a female student had been raped and later died by suicide. He said the Kapurthala police had not received any complaint regarding such an incident in recent days.

He added that students had complained that their requests for a detailed investigation into the reports had not been addressed at the university level.

LPU Calls Social Media Claims ‘False, Baseless’

LPU had earlier denied the reports, describing them as false and fabricated.

“Certain anti-social elements are spreading completely false, baseless and fabricated rumours through social media and other channels, thereby creating unnecessary confusion among students and attempting to disturb the peaceful academic environment of the University,” registrar Monica Gulati said in a statement.

The university said the circulation of the claims appeared to be a deliberate attempt to damage its reputation.

It urged students, parents and the public not to circulate or amplify unverified information and to rely on official communications.

“The University categorically clarifies that there is no truth in the rumours presently being circulated,” the statement said.

Similar Unrest At Chitkara University

The LPU protests came a day after unrest at Chitkara University near Rajpura in Patiala following unverified social media claims that two female students had died by suicide on campus.

The claims spread after students said they had heard screams and seen two ambulances on the campus on the night of September 24.

Patiala SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans said neither students nor their families had reported any suicides or deaths on the campus.

Chitkara University also denied the claims, saying they had no factual basis.