Protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara escalated into clashes between students and police on Sunday evening, amid unverified social media claims concerning an alleged sexual assault involving a female student.
Police resorted to lathicharge after the situation turned tense, while tear gas was later used to disperse the protesters. Reports also said that stones and other objects were allegedly thrown at police personnel, while police vehicles were damaged and at least one vehicle was set on fire.
The protests had started earlier after claims regarding an alleged sexual assault on the university campus circulated on social media. Students gathered in large numbers, damaged property on the campus and blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, causing significant traffic disruption.
An FIR has been registered following a complaint related to the allegations. Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the matter. The team includes police officials as well as student representatives.
At the same time, police officials have said that the allegations circulating on social media remain unverified. Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said police had not found evidence substantiating the alleged incident so far.
University denies allegations circulating online
The university administration has denied the claims being circulated on social media and described them as false and baseless. It has appealed to students, parents and the public to rely on information shared through official channels and avoid spreading unverified claims.
Students had earlier staged a protest on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway, leading to long queues of vehicles. The situation remained tense as police attempted to clear the blockade and bring the protest under control.
The allegations, including claims regarding the identity or subsequent death of the alleged survivor, have not been independently verified. The investigation by the police SIT is underway.
