The unrest began around 2 am near the girls’ hostel, where students gathered and started protesting against the university administration. The situation soon escalated, with protesting students allegedly damaging university property, smashing window panes, pelting bricks and flower pots, and setting parts of buildings inside the campus on fire.
The university’s private security personnel appeared unable to control the situation as students moved towards the campus gates. Protesters allegedly damaged campus signages before reaching the National Highway around 4 am and staging a protest there.
The National Highway between Phagwara and Jalandhar was blocked, following which a heavy police deployment was made around the university. Kapurthala police teams were deployed to prevent further arson and damage to property inside the campus.
Students also took to social media, sharing videos of the unrest and raising concerns about the university administration’s handling of the matter.
Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora reached the spot and said the unrest had followed viral messages concerning an alleged rape of a student. At that stage, he said the allegation remained unverified.
According to SSP Toora, police had not initially found evidence to substantiate the allegation and had received no complaint regarding the reported incident. He also said that students had caused significant damage to university property.
The SSP said police were speaking with the protesting students and trying to pacify them. He added that the situation had started coming under control and expressed hope that it would be settled soon.
Meanwhile, a student speaking to the media alleged that police were not seriously listening to their concerns and claimed that rape-related cases were often suppressed at the university. This claim has not been independently verified.
In a subsequent statement, Punjab Police DIG Naveen Singla said that multiple versions of the alleged incident were circulating.
According to the DIG, one version claimed that a female student had been raped and later died by suicide, while another claimed that a female student had been raped and subsequently gone missing.
Singla said that a statement had now been recorded and an FIR had been registered against unidentified accused. He added that police would conduct a detailed investigation using technical evidence and other available material.
The DIG also addressed a video circulating on social media showing a girl lying on the floor with an ambulance visible nearby. According to him, prima facie, the video appeared to be old.
He said the video may be linked to an incident from September 10, when a female student allegedly jumped from the eighth floor of a building. According to the police, the student’s family was informed and a statement from the family was also recorded. The post-mortem report is still awaited from the forensic team, the DIG said.
When asked about allegations concerning the alleged rape of a cleaning staff member, the DIG said the matter was under investigation.
In a fresh statement released by LPU Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh, the university confirmed that an FIR had been registered based on allegations raised by students.
Singh said that five students had been made members of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to assist in examining the matter. He said a proper investigation would be conducted and that, if an accused is identified, the appropriate legal process would follow.
The Vice Chancellor said that all available evidence would be considered as part of the investigation, including videos circulating in connection with the incident.
The university said it would cooperate with the investigation and that the facts would be established on the basis of the evidence collected.
DIG Naveen Singla told the media that according to the students’ claims, the girl was staying in room number 105 of JH3 hostel.
In a statement, LPU Registrar Dr Monica Gulati said the university had taken note of what it described as “false and fabricated rumours” being circulated through social media and other channels.
The university said there was “no truth” in the rumours and alleged that certain anti-social elements were attempting to create confusion among students and disturb the academic environment.
In a fresh statement, LPU Executive Dean of Student Welfare Saurabh Lakhanpal also addressed the rumours circulating on campus.
Lakhanpal said certain rumours were being circulated on the LPU campus and claimed that they were affecting the academic environment. He further alleged that the rumours were being systematically circulated with an intention to defame the university.
He said the university denied the rumours and described them as false. He appealed to students and parents not to believe or circulate unverified information.
The university also urged students to rely only on credible information and refrain from supporting or spreading rumours.
The administration appealed to students to remain calm, avoid participating in any disruptive activities or protests based on unverified information, and maintain a peaceful and orderly environment on campus.
The latest police and university statements confirm that an FIR has now been registered and that the matter is under investigation. The allegations and the circumstances surrounding them will be established through the investigation and examination of the available evidence.