2,000 cops deployed, classes suspended for 10 days: LPU protests spiral into violence

Rape claim, campus unrest and midnight clashes: What happened at LPU

NEW DELHI: Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara went on a rampage on Sunday, vandalising property and blocking NH-44 during protests over claims that an outsider raped a female student on the university campus. The protests later turned violent as students clashed with police, damaged and set fire to vehicles, and pelted stones at security personnel. Several policemen were injured.The university has suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations until further notice. Heavy police deployment has been made on the campus, while students have started leaving for their homes.Classes suspended, exams postponedFollowing the violence, LPU suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations until further notice.The administration appealed to students to remain calm, follow official instructions and stay connected for further updates.Several rounds of talks between protesting students and the university management remained inconclusive. Vice Chancellor Sandhu assured students that their genuine grievances would be addressed.The protesters demanded that LPU Founder-Chancellor Ashok Mittal, who is also a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, visit the protest site and assure them that their concerns would be resolved. They also sought that access to the University Management System not be blocked and that students not be victimised for participating in the protest.Police deploy over 2,000 personnelA large police force led by ADGP M F Farooqui entered the LPU campus after the violence escalated. More than 2,000 personnel have been deployed to maintain security through the night, Farooqui said.“We will ensure security on the campus throughout the night… A force of over 2,000 personnel is currently deployed here. Law and order has been fully maintained and restored… The process is ongoing, and we are working to keep the situation under control. I cannot provide further details at this moment. To the families whose daughters are staying in the hostel here: please do not worry; everyone is safe… The atmosphere here is completely calm, and the university students are also cooperating with us in restoring peace...,” he said.Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said reports of disturbances in the hostels were rumours and that all hostels had been checked.“First of all, reports of disturbances in the hostels were merely rumours. All hostels have been checked, and there are no issues. Traffic has resumed, and the situation is normal. Other matters will be resolved through discussions with the students… Overall, the atmosphere is fine, and any minor issues will be addressed… Please inform the families that all students are safe and there is no cause for concern,” Singh said.DIG (Jalandhar Range) Naveen Singla also said the situation had been brought under control and that traffic movement on NH-44 would soon be restored.Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has directed strict action against those responsible for the unrest at Lovely Professional University (LPU), the Chief Minister’s Office said.Mann also directed Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav to visit the spot and assess the situation.Clashes, arson and highway blockadeThe protest began near Girls’ Hostel-3 around 1 am on Sunday after students alleged that a female student had been raped by a plumber three days earlier. They also claimed the hostel warden had been informed but no action was taken.The protesters blocked NH-44 outside the university from around 8 am, causing long queues of stranded vehicles. Police later attempted to clear the blockade, but students allegedly threw water bottles at them and clashed with personnel.Police resorted to a mild lathi charge, following which students moved towards the campus and continued to pelt stones at police vehicles. Two police vehicles were set on fire, while four to five vehicles were damaged, according to Jalandhar Rural SSP Harvinder Singh Virk.Viral videos showed damaged property, vehicles and an ATM kiosk on the campus. Some students were also seen climbing onto a decommissioned MiG-23UM aircraft and a military tank installed on the premises.A truck driver, Vikas Yadav, said, “We have been stranded since 7 AM; there is no sign of things opening up yet… We are extremely distressed… We have had to abandon our vehicles and flee…”Rape case registered, SIT formedPolice said an FIR had been registered against an unknown person based on a complaint by the students and a special investigation team had been formed.Singla said the girl was staying in Hostel No. 3 and had returned to her home after students alleged that no action had been taken on the matter. He said the investigation would involve student representatives.“We will analyse forensic samples, CCTV camera footage, call records, etc., before reaching a conclusion,” Singla said.The DIG also said students had demanded that the hostel staff comprise only women, adding that the management would address the demand.Asked about another death, Singla said a female student from Telangana studying at LPU had died by suicide 15 days earlier. “If the students say that there was foul play, action will be taken,” he said.LPU Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu said the university was not aware of any such rape incident but would cooperate with the investigation.LPU denies rape claim, releases students’ videoLPU management has denied the rape allegations, with Registrar Monica Gulati saying certain “anti-social elements” were spreading “false, baseless and fabricated” claims.The university released a video featuring three female students identified as residents of Room No. 504 of the hostel. In the video, the students said no rape had taken place in their room and asked police and other students not to disturb them.Gulati introduced the video by saying, “I would like you to hear what the girls residing in room number 504 of GH3 told us.”The first student said, “So, we are the residents of room number 504. Nothing of that sort happened in our room; we have been living here for the past two months. Please, police and students, do not bother us. Nothing like that happened in our room, and we are not involved in this at all.”The second student said, “We have been extremely distressed today, and if we face further trouble, we will involve our parents. Please do not harass us.”

The third added, “And the police should also stop coming to our room repeatedly; otherwise, we will call our parents.”Gulati later said, “The only conclusion to be drawn from all this is that anti-social elements and individuals with vested interests are behind this.”Congress attacks Punjab governmentThe opposition Congress criticised the AAP government over the law and order situation in Punjab.“What is happening at LPU is deeply concerning. If students have serious questions or concerns about any incident, they deserve transparent, impartial and time-bound answers, not rumours or suppression. The violence is a testament to the failed law and order situation in Punjab,” state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said.“NH-44 has been blocked since the morning, yet not a single representative from the AAP government has bothered to meet the students and hear their grievances,” Warring said.