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Punjab Police asked people to verify before sharing and shun social media rumours, saying some spread false claims to disturb peace and brotherhood; dial 112 in emergencies.
LPU Protests: The university has suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations.
Large numbers of students were seen leaving Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara on Monday amid heavy police deployment, a day after violence rocked the campus. As classes were suspended for 10 days, Punjab Police urged people to avoid unverified rumours on social media, saying some spread false claims.
Visuals from the campus showed police stationed across the university as students, most of them from outside Punjab, headed home.
The university has suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations, following a student protest that turned violent.
Mobile internet services around the campus have reportedly been shut since midnight. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered strict action against those responsible and asked Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav to assess the situation on the spot.
What Has Punjab Police Said About The Rumours?
In a post on X, Punjab Police asked people to stay away from social media rumours and to verify information before sharing it. It said some people were making false claims to disturb Punjab’s peace and brotherhood, and that police were working to maintain law and order. People were urged to dial 112 in an emergency.
According to a Times of IndiaYadav also appealed to the public not to believe unverified rumours and asked the media to rely on authentic sources.
What Have The Police Found On Campus?
TOI report quoted Yadav as saying that the police have found walkie-talkies on the campus and are probing the alleged presence of outsiders.
“Walkie-talkies have been found here,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the devices pointed to a role for people from outside the university.
The DGP said police had also examined viral CCTV footage that purportedly shows men near the women’s hostel. He told the newspaper that the footage was being questioned, and that the violence “probably occurred” because of it.
Both the footage and the outsiders’ presence form part of the wider probe. Asked whether the alleged presence of outsiders pointed to a police failure, Yadav said police had chosen dialogue over force because the grievances were between students and the university administration.
How Did The Trouble Begin?
Yadav said the trouble began on the intervening night of September 26 and 27, when rumours about “certain incidents” spread on campus and a large number of students gathered.
There was some vandalism, and part of a gate was set on fire, he said. Senior officers, including DIG Jalandhar Range Navin Singla and the SSP of Kapurthala, reached the campus and opened talks with students who had grievances against the administration.
Police deliberately avoided force and instead acted as a bridge between students and the administration, he said. One demand was that only female staff be deployed in the girls’ hostel. Meetings were held on Sunday, with another scheduled for Monday.
A local report said the dispute began after a rumour that a student had been raped, followed by vandalism and arson. Mann ordered strict action in connection with the alleged rape incident.
What Are Students Saying?
Student Vishal Kumar said the situation was normal until Sunday morning, with students protesting, but that at night a large number of masked people came from outside and vandalised the campus block by block.
“They were not students,” he said. He said the university then announced a 10-day break and that everyone was leaving because safety was a concern.
Another student, Karan, claimed police lathicharged the protesters and that “local goons” entered the campus, torched departments and burnt trees. He claimed some people entered the girls’ hostel with knives, and that everything happened between 10 pm and midnight, with police arriving after 12 am. He said an official notification on the holiday was yet to come.
#WATCH | Phagwara, Punjab | A student, Vishal Kumar, says, “Until yesterday morning, the situation was normal; students were protesting. But as night fell, a large number of people came from outside wearing masks and it turned violent. Vandalism occurred on the campus, they were… pic.twitter.com/7mMViXuaMF— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2026
The police version differs on force. Yadav said officers made a “conscious decision” not to use force on the students and used “a lot of restraint”.
What Action Has Been Taken?
An FIR has been registered and a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed, Yadav said. Police will use CCTV footage to identify those involved in vandalism, and the law will take its course irrespective of who is involved, including anyone from the university administration, he added.
Some elements later tried to disturb the situation and threw stones at police vehicles, he said.
A local report said police vehicles were set on fire and several personnel injured, and that intelligence inputs estimate property damage of over Rs 20 crore.
Police held a flag march at night, after which the protesting students returned to their hostels, and the campus was calm on Monday morning, with a large police force still deployed.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Lovely Professional University suspended regular classes for 10 days starting September 28, 2026, and postponed its mid-term examinations following a student protest that turned violent.
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Sumedha Kirti is a Chief Sub Editor with over eight years of experience — both at the desk and reporting. She is a graduate from Delhi University’s Miranda House. Kirti has previously worked with news…Read More
Chandigarh, India, India
September 28, 2026, 1:01 PM IST
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