Punjab university unrest follows social media rumours of sexual assault

Hundreds of students protested at Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar after unverified social media rumours alleged a sexual assault. Students blocked a highway and damaged property, while LPU denied the allegations and police continued to assess the situation and verify claims

Chandigarh: Hundreds of students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) on the outskirts of Punjab’s Jalandhar protested late on Sunday over social media rumours that a student had been sexually assaulted on campus by an outsider, damaging property, setting items on fire and blocking a national highway, officials and students said.

Police had not confirmed any rape complaint at the time of filing this report, and there was no independent confirmation of the alleged assault.

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The unrest at LPU resulted in protesters blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara section of the National Highway for several hours. Property on the university campus was also damaged and some items were set on fire, police said.

The LPU denied the allegations circulating on social media. “There is no truth in the rumours currently being circulated,” LPU Registrar Monica Gulati said in a statement.

She urged students, parents and the public not to believe or amplify the rumours and to rely on information issued through official university channels.

Gulati said the university had learnt that what she described as “anti-social elements” were spreading false and fabricated information through social media and other channels, creating confusion among students and disrupting the academic environment.

She said the circulation of the information appeared to be a deliberate attempt to malign the university and tarnish its reputation.

Students protesting on campus said they wanted the authorities to register a first information report (FIR) and investigate their concerns. Some protesters alleged that a sexual assault had taken place and accused university authorities of refusing to accept their complaint.

The students also alleged that outsiders were involved in the vandalism.

The incident was the second major student protest at a private university in Punjab in the last two days, following unrest at Chitkara University in Rajpura in Patiala district.

Hundreds of students protested at Chitkara University late Friday and early Saturday after unverified social media rumours claimed that two female students were missing. The unrest escalated into clashes with police, vandalism of two police vehicles and property damage on the campus.

Both incidents underscore how quickly unverified information circulating online can trigger large student gatherings and disruption at university campuses. Authorities at both universities were continuing to assess the situations and verify the claims circulating on social media.