Lovely Professional University in Punjab's Phagwara has suspended regular classes for 10 days and postponed its mid-term examinations amid violent student protests over an alleged rape on campus, in a rapidly escalating crisis that has drawn more than 2,000 police personnel to the university.
The unrest erupted over the weekend after claims circulated among students and on social media that a female student had been raped inside a girls' hostel — allegedly on September 23 — and that the incident had been suppressed. Protests that began on Saturday turned violent on Sunday, with students damaging university property, setting objects on fire and blocking the Jalandhar–Phagwara stretch of National Highway 44, a key Delhi–Amritsar road link, for several hours. Traffic has since resumed.
FIR registered, allegation unconfirmed
Police have registered a first information report under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with rape, against unidentified persons on the statement of a female student, and a Special Investigation Team has been formed. Police have not announced any finding confirming the alleged assault, and the allegation remains unverified.
The university's registrar, Monica Gulati, pushed back hard on the claims, saying the allegation of rape on campus "appears to be a deliberate and concerted attempt to malign the reputation of the university and tarnish its image," and accusing "anti-social elements" of spreading "completely false, baseless and fabricated rumours" through social media.
Campus shuts down
In its notice, LPU said regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days from September 28 and that mid-term examinations scheduled during the period were postponed until further notice, with a revised schedule to be communicated through the University Management System.
Students have been permitted to travel to their hometowns after consulting parents or guardians. Those staying back have been advised to remain inside hostels and avoid unnecessary movement. Police conducted a flag march on campus as the heavy deployment continued into Monday, and early-morning visuals showed students leaving for home.
Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka held both the Centre and the Punjab government responsible for the unrest, as the investigation — and the standoff between protesting students and the administration — continued.
Sources:
The Statesman: LPU suspends classes for 10 days, postpones mid-term exams after alleged rape protests turn violent
Scroll.in: Lovely Professional University suspends classes, postpones exams amid protest against alleged rape
ABP Live: LPU suspends classes for 10 days, postpones midterms amid violent protests; 2,000 cops deployed
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The unrest erupted over the weekend after claims circulated among students and on social media that a female student had been raped inside a girls' hostel — allegedly on September 23 — and that the incident had been suppressed. Protests that began on Saturday turned violent on Sunday, with students damaging university property, setting objects on fire and blocking the Jalandhar–Phagwara stretch of National Highway 44, a key Delhi–Amritsar road link, for several hours. Traffic has since resumed.
FIR registered, allegation unconfirmed
Police have registered a first information report under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with rape, against unidentified persons on the statement of a female student, and a Special Investigation Team has been formed. Police have not announced any finding confirming the alleged assault, and the allegation remains unverified.
The university's registrar, Monica Gulati, pushed back hard on the claims, saying the allegation of rape on campus "appears to be a deliberate and concerted attempt to malign the reputation of the university and tarnish its image," and accusing "anti-social elements" of spreading "completely false, baseless and fabricated rumours" through social media.
Campus shuts down
In its notice, LPU said regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days from September 28 and that mid-term examinations scheduled during the period were postponed until further notice, with a revised schedule to be communicated through the University Management System.
Students have been permitted to travel to their hometowns after consulting parents or guardians. Those staying back have been advised to remain inside hostels and avoid unnecessary movement. Police conducted a flag march on campus as the heavy deployment continued into Monday, and early-morning visuals showed students leaving for home.
Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka held both the Centre and the Punjab government responsible for the unrest, as the investigation — and the standoff between protesting students and the administration — continued.
Sources:
The Statesman: LPU suspends classes for 10 days, postpones mid-term exams after alleged rape protests turn violent
Scroll.in: Lovely Professional University suspends classes, postpones exams amid protest against alleged rape
LPU Protest: Classes Suspended For 10 Days, Exams Postponed Amid Violence; 2,000 Cops Deployed
Police said the alleged rape has not been confirmed and an FIR has been registered against multiple unidentified people as the investigation continues.
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