LPU student protests in Punjab turned violent late Saturday after unverified social media claims alleging the rape of a female student and her subsequent death by suicide began circulating among students. The unrest at Lovely Professional University near Jalandhar came shortly after another Punjab university witnessed protests triggered by similarly unverified online claims.
Students gathered across the LPU campus demanding clarity and an investigation into the allegations. During the protest, parts of university property were damaged, window panes were smashed and sections of buildings were reportedly set on fire. Some students said their concerns about the circulating reports had not received a satisfactory response from the university administration.
Delhi-Amritsar highway blockade
The protest later moved outside the university, where students blocked the Delhi-Amritsar national highway at around 4 am. Protesters demanded registration of an FIR and a detailed investigation into the allegations circulating on social media.
The blockade disrupted traffic until police intervened and restored movement on the highway. Authorities said discussions were initiated with university officials and students to address the concerns and prevent further escalation.
Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora said police personnel from Jalandhar Rural, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala were called after information about the law-and-order situation was received at around 2 am.
Police said they had not received any complaint in recent days confirming the alleged rape or suicide. Officials said further action regarding damage to university property would be considered after an assessment.
Police deployment at LPU campus
Lovely Professional University rejected the allegations circulating online, calling them false, baseless and fabricated. Registrar Monica Gulati said misleading information was being spread through social media and other channels, creating confusion among students and disturbing the academic environment.
The university urged students, parents and members of the public not to circulate unverified claims and advised them to depend on official communication and verified information.
The LPU unrest came a day after Chitkara University near Rajpura in Patiala also witnessed large student demonstrations following social media claims involving female students.
Reports circulating online at Chitkara University included allegations of student deaths and missing students. However, university officials and police said the claims had not been substantiated. Students had reportedly cited screams from a hostel and the presence of ambulances as reasons for their concern, helping rumours spread rapidly online.
Chitkara University denied that any suicide had taken place on campus, while police began verifying the claims and investigating how the rumours originated.
The incidents at both universities show how quickly unverified information can trigger fear and unrest on campuses. They also underline the importance of transparent communication from university authorities and careful verification before sensitive claims involving student safety are shared on social media.
