Late Saturday night, chaos unfolded at Lovely Professional University situated in Phagwara, Punjab, after information regarding an alleged assault on a female student began circulating rapidly across various social media groups. As the unverified message spread, anger surged among the student body, prompting thousands to launch a massive protest starting around 2 AM. In response to the escalating situation, law enforcement agencies intervened and formally registered an FIR in connection with the incident.
The protests initially commenced near the girls' hostel, where a large crowd of agitated students quickly gathered. The demonstration rapidly turned violent, with students indulging in heavy vandalism inside the campus premises and setting a fire within the grounds. The situation grew so intense that the protesting students marched out of the university gates and onto the Chandigarh-Amritsar National Highway, where they staged a sit-in protest.
By blocking the major highway, the students caused a massive traffic gridlock, stranding numerous commuters and travelers. Upon receiving urgent intimation of the unfolding events, Kapurthala SP Gaurav Toora rushed to the scene late Saturday night to assess the ground realities and help police personnel manage the volatile crowd. Authorities noted that the entire protest stemmed from the viral social media post alleging that an outsider had committed a crime against a student.
Meanwhile, DIG Naveen Singla stated that an official FIR has been registered regarding the matter. He added that the protesting students maintained they would clear the highway blockade as soon as they received a copy of the FIR. Conversely, the university administration strongly dismissed the assault allegations, terming them completely baseless, and urged students to ignore rumors and refrain from participating in any protests or sit-ins.
Following the widespread unrest, the LPU administration issued a formal statement addressing the campus community. The statement emphasized that the management wants to assure all students that everyone remains completely safe inside the campus. It noted that the rumors circulating on social media are entirely false and misleading, having been propagated by mischievous elements. The administration advised students to steer clear of chaos, stay safe inside their respective hostels and rooms, and avoid engaging in any provocative or disruptive activities while cooperating to maintain a peaceful environment on campus.
