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LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal has alleged that the recent campus violence was part of ‘highly organised conspiracy’, while police investigate the social media claims.
Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal
BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Lovely Professional University (LPU) Chancellor Ashok Kumar Mittal has described the recent violence on the university campus as a “highly organised conspiracy”, alleging that malicious elements sought to create unrest and destabilise Punjab.
Speaking to ANI, Mittal said preliminary enquiries had found no evidence of the sexual assault incident that was alleged in social media posts and subsequently triggered protests at the university. He claimed the allegations were spread through fabricated content, particularly on Reddit.
Mittal also pointed to a similar episode at Chitkara University in Rajpurawhere protests erupted after unverified claims circulated online. He said the two incidents occurring within a short period raised questions about whether they were connected.
“The rumour spread via the Reddit platform is completely false,” Mittal said, adding that he believed the incidents at the two universities warranted investigation.
Punjab Police had earlier said investigations into the LPU and Chitkara incidents found that fabricated social-media posts and rumours had played a role in triggering unrest. A report published by Hindustan Times, citing the police investigation, said fabricated claims involving sexual assault, suicides and missing students were circulated through online discussion threads before protests erupted at both campuses.
‘Attempt To Drive Wedge Between Hindu, Sikh Communities’, Says Mittal
Mittal further alleged that the unrest was part of a broader attempt to create divisions in Punjab.
At A Glance
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal described recent campus violence as a “highly organised conspiracy”.
Preliminary enquiries found no evidence of the alleged sexual assault incident at LPU.
Mittal pointed to a similar episode at Chitkara University in Rajpura involving unverified online claims.
Punjab Police investigations found fabricated social-media posts and rumors triggered unrest at both LPU and Chitkara.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a detailed status report from Punjab Police on the LPU violence.
He also criticised the damage and vandalism reported on the LPU campus, particularly videos showing protesters climbing onto a decommissioned MiG-23 fighter aircraft installed near the university’s main gate as a memorial.
According to Mittal, such acts amounted to an attack on symbols associated with India’s armed forces. He alleged that attempts were being made to “drive a wedge” between Hindu and Sikh communities in Punjab. These claims are Mittal’s allegations and have not, by themselves, established who organised the unrest or what their motives were.
How LPU Protests Started
The unrest at LPU erupted after social media posts alleged that a female student had been sexually assaulted inside a hostel. The claims spread rapidly online and prompted large student gatherings demanding answers and greater security on campus.
Police and university authorities subsequently said they had found no evidence confirming the alleged incident. The protests later escalated into vandalism and clashes, with disruption extending to the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has since sought a detailed status report from Punjab Police on the LPU violence, including the role of social-media claims in triggering the unrest.
The controversy also follows protests at Chitkara University in Rajpura, where rumours concerning missing female students and other unverified claims had triggered a separate protest days earlier.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The unrest at Lovely Professional University was triggered by fabricated social media posts and unverified online claims alleging that a female student had been sexually assaulted inside a hostel. These rumors spread rapidly across platforms like Reddit, prompting large student demonstrations, campus vandalism, and traffic disruptions on the highway.
Ask News18About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More
October 01, 2026, 4:57 PM IST
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