LPU students protest over rape of female student, block highway: Here is what is happening in Punjab

The protest turned violent, with students damaging property and setting objects on fire before blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway.
LPU students protest over sexual assault (Images via X)

A protest by students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara began late Saturday, 26th September and turned violent by Sunday, 27th September, after a report about the rape of a female student by an outsider began circulating on the campus. Students damaged property, set some objects on fire and later blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway outside the university.

The incident came a day after students at Chitkara University held a protest over a separate incident. 

The unrest started near the girls’ hostel and grew as students from different hostels joined the protest. By around 2 am, a large number of students had gathered and moved towards the main gate of the university. Videos from inside the campus were shared widely on social media as the situation became tense. The videos showed students moving through the university’s mall and other parts of the campus. Some objects were also set on fire during the protest.

The growing unrest prompted the police to reach the university campus. Students continued raising slogans and demanding action over the incident.

Students block Jalandhar-Phagwara highway

The protest later moved outside the university. At around 4 am on Sunday, 27th September, students blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, causing disruption on the busy stretch. Protesters raised slogans of “We want justice” and demanded that the university and authorities take action over the rape incident.

A BSc student told The Indian Express that the protest began after students started hearing about a sexual assault. “The protest was triggered after information about a sexual assault of a female student began circulating among students,” the student said.

The protest came as students sought clarity about what had happened and demanded action if the allegation was found to be true.

Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora reached the spot as the situation escalated and spoke to the protesting students. He told them that police had not received any complaint regarding the alleged sexual assault at that point.

Naveen Singla, DIG Jalandhar Range, said, “Early this morning at 2 AM, a large number of LPU students blocked the National Highway here. Their primary demand was that three days ago a girl from the G3 hostel was raped, and no action had been taken regarding this until now. We have received their statement. We have initiated the registration of an FIR, and they will receive a copy shortly.”

The police clarification came after videos and reports about the incident had already spread among students and on social media. 

Written by OpIndia Staff
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