Students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in India’s Punjab blocked National Highway-44 near Phagwara on Sunday after protests over an alleged rape on campus turned violent, with police baton charging after protesters allegedly threw stones and bottles at them.
The protests began after students alleged that a female student living in the university’s GH-3 hostel was raped three days earlier, and that no action was taken. The allegation has not been established, while LPU has denied that the incident took place.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Naveen Singla said that students told police that the woman had returned home after the alleged incident. Based on the students’ statements, police registered an FIR [First Information Report] under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against an unknown person.
Singla stated that police have formed a special investigation team led by the Phagwara Superintendent of Police (SP) to investigate the allegation.
The protests continued despite the registration of the FIR and assurances from LPU Vice Chancellor (VC) Jaspal Singh Sandhu. Students demanded that university founder-chancellor and Rajya Sabha member Ashok Mittal personally visit the protest site and assure them that action will follow.
The protest turned violent on Sunday evening after police and students clashed. Police stated that protesters threw bottles and stones, prompting the baton charge. Some police vehicles were later set on fire, while police personnel sustained injuries.
Videos from the campus showed students damaging window panes and flower pots, while some objects were set on fire. According to visuals circulating on social media, students also damaged army installations on the campus. People sharing the visuals alleged that an Indian Army tank that was used during wartime had been set on fire by protesters at LPU.
The university has now suspended regular classes for 10 days starting Monday and postponed its mid-term examinations after the protests. In a statement cited by an Indian news agency, LPU said students could travel to their hometowns during the suspension. It advised those who stay back to remain in their hostels or places of accommodation, avoid unnecessary movement and not participate in the unrest.
Over 2,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure security on the campus, according to reports quoting Additional Director General of Police Fayaz Farooqui.
Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora said that police reached the university after learning that students had gathered together and blocked the highway. He said that officers learned that students had grievances against the LPU administration.
Toora added that police had no information about a rape case when they reached the site. He said officers spoke to student bodies and were working to resolve their grievances, adding that there appeared to be a misunderstanding between the university and students.
LPU Registrar Monica Gulati said that the rape allegation was untrue and that rumours circulating on social media were false and misleading.
The university also released a video featuring three female students from room 504 of GH-3, who stated that no such incident had taken place and that they had been staying there for two months.
Police, however, said that the investigation will continue on the basis of the allegations made by students. A senior police officer stated that investigators have so far not received information identifying the alleged victim or an accused person.
The officer also said that students initially identified room 504 as the location of the alleged offence, but police found nothing suspicious there. Students later identified five other rooms as possible locations, but residents objected to police inquiries on privacy grounds.
