PHAGWARA: Fresh violence erupted outside Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara on Sunday as protesting students clashed with police, hurling stones at security personnel and setting at least three vehicles on fire, a day after unrest over allegations of sexual assault rocked the campus.
The protest, which began near a girls’ hostel after claims of an alleged assault spread among students and on social media, escalated into clashes with police and a prolonged blockade of the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway (NH-44). The blockade continued into Sunday afternoon, leaving long queues of vehicles as authorities diverted traffic through alternative routes.
A senior police official said several personnel were injured in the stone-pelting and at least one police vehicle was damaged. The exact number of injured officers was not immediately known. Police subsequently moved their vehicles away from the area to prevent further damage, while additional personnel regrouped nearby.
The unrest followed overnight vandalism inside the university, where protesters allegedly damaged window panes, shops and an ATM kiosk. Videos circulating online also appeared to show objects being set on fire, while one student was seen climbing onto a decommissioned aircraft displayed on the campus.
FIR REGISTERED, SIT PROBES ALLEGATION
Police have registered a case under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with rape, following a complaint by a female student alleging that another student was sexually assaulted around September 23-24 at the GH3 girls’ hostel.
Police have clarified that the complainant is not being identified as the alleged victim. The identity of the alleged victim and accused has not been made public, and no arrest has been announced so far.
Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said investigators would examine forensic evidence, CCTV footage and call records before reaching a conclusion. Student representatives are being kept informed about the progress of the investigation.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Phagwara SP Major Singh has been constituted to investigate the complaint. The team includes DSP Palwinder Singh and a woman police inspector.
Police have said that the investigation so far has not established evidence confirming the allegations, while the university has denied the claims.
STUDENTS SEEK ASSURANCES
Earlier on Sunday, police officials held talks with student representatives and the LPU administration near the campus. Officials shared a copy of the FIR and details of the SIT with the representatives, but the discussions failed to end the protest.
Students have demanded an assurance from LPU Founder-Chancellor Ashok Mittal and sought guarantees that their access to the University Management System would not be blocked and that they would not face disciplinary action for participating in the protest.
The agitation had initially centred on demands for clarity over the alleged assault and accountability, but the situation deteriorated as the protest spread beyond the campus and disrupted traffic on the national highway.
Police and civil administration officials remained engaged with student representatives and university authorities as efforts continued to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation.
The investigation into the allegation remains underway, with authorities relying on forensic material, CCTV footage, call records and other evidence to establish what occurred.
