The protests began late on September 26 and intensified on September 27 after claims circulated among students and on social media that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted at Girls’ Hostel-3 by an outsider, reportedly a plumber or construction worker.
Students also alleged that the matter had been reported to hostel authorities but that no action was taken. These claims remain disputed. Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora initially said police had received no complaint and had found no substantiating evidence supporting the allegation.
Later, Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said police had received a statement and registered a case against an unknown person. He said CCTV footage, forensic evidence and phone records would be examined, with student representatives involved in the investigation.
LPU Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu said the university would provide all necessary support to the police and that five students had been included in the investigation process. He said appropriate legal action would follow if the allegation was found to be genuine.
Protest Escalates Into Campus Violence
What began as a demand for answers quickly turned into a major law-and-order situation. Students gathered near the girls’ hostel before the protest spread across the campus, with videos showing damaged window panes, flower pots, shops and other property, as well as objects being set on fire. Protesters subsequently blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch of National Highway-44, causing major traffic disruption.
The situation became more tense when police attempted to clear the road. Reports and videos showed clashes between protesters and police, including stone-pelting and damage to police vehicles. Some protesters were also seen climbing onto a decommissioned MiG-23 aircraft and a military tank displayed on the university campus.
Police later deployed a large force to bring the situation under control. ADGP M.F. Farooqui said more than 2,000 personnel had been deployed, while Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said the situation was under control and students were safe.
University Denies Allegations, Students Seek Answers
LPU has strongly rejected the claims surrounding the alleged assault. Registrar Dr Monica Gulati said certain “anti-social elements” were spreading what the university described as “false, baseless and fabricated” rumours through social media and other channels. The university urged students, parents and the public not to circulate unverified information and to rely on official communication.
The university also released a video featuring three female students who said they were residents of Room 504 at Girls’ Hostel-3 and claimed that no such incident had occurred there. However, subsequent reports said the same students later alleged that they had been instructed about what to say in the video, adding another layer to the dispute. Their later claims, too, remain allegations and have not been independently established.
Meanwhile, students have demanded that the allegations be investigated transparently and that their safety concerns be addressed. Police have said the SIT, headed by Phagwara SP Major Singh and including other officers and student representatives, will investigate the matter. The university has said it will cooperate with the probe.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The LPU protests underline how quickly uncertainty can turn into fear and confrontation when serious allegations circulate without clear, verified information. Any allegation of sexual violence deserves a prompt, sensitive and impartial investigation, while students who raise concerns about their safety must have credible channels through which their grievances can be heard.
At the same time, unverified claims should not become a trigger for violence, vandalism or attacks on people and public infrastructure. The focus now should remain on establishing the facts through an independent and transparent investigation, protecting students and ensuring accountability wherever wrongdoing is established.
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