'Rumour Rage' at Punjab's Lovely Professional University Triggers Campus Violence

Tension at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara escalated into violent protests on September 27 after an unverified claim about an alleged sexual assault at a girls’ hostel spread rapidly among students and on social media. The claim alleged that a female student had been assaulted inside the university hostel by an outsider. As the message circulated, a large number of students gathered on the campus demanding clarification and action from the university administration. The protest later turned violent, with reports of clashes between students and police, damage to property and vehicles, and disruption of traffic on National Highway-44.

Punjab Police registered an FIR following a complaint by a student and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the allegation and events surrounding the unrest. Investigators are examining available evidence, including CCTV footage, statements and other material, to establish what actually happened.

The university has denied the allegations circulating on social media and described the claims as false and baseless. LPU officials have urged students and parents to rely on verified information and official communications while the police investigation remains underway. The unrest also resulted in disruption to academic activities. The university announced a temporary suspension of classes and postponed scheduled examinations as authorities worked to bring the situation under control.

Police are also looking into how the unverified information spread and whether it contributed to the escalation of the protest. The incident has highlighted concerns over the speed at which unconfirmed claims can circulate through social-media platforms, particularly during sensitive situations on university campuses.

The LPU incident came shortly after unrest at another private university in Punjab, where social-media rumours had also contributed to student protests. Authorities are examining the two incidents separately while looking at possible similarities in the way information spread online. The original allegation at LPU remains under investigation and has not been established as fact. The SIT inquiry is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the claim, while police continue investigating the violence and damage that followed the protests.

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