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A rape allegation spread online, protests erupted and a university campus descended into violence. Here’s what happened at LPU – and what remains unproven
LPU Protest Update: A rape allegation at Lovely Professional University led to violent protests, property damage, clashes with police, and an NH-44 blockade.
PHAGWARA: A protest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara spiralled into a violent confrontation after unverified claims about the alleged rape of a female student circulated among students and on social media. The unrest also brought renewed questions about the September 10 death by suicide of a 21-year-old student from Telangana.
Police have registered a case against an unknown person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), while saying the allegations have not yet been established. LPU, meanwhile, has denied that a rape occurred on campus and described the claims as false, baseless and fabricated.
Rumours Begin Circulating
The immediate trigger was a series of claims that a female student staying in Girls’ Hostel-3 had allegedly been raped by a plumber or construction worker several days earlier.
Students also alleged that the hostel warden had been informed but that no action was taken. Police said the claims were being raised by students during the protest, while initial reports described the allegation as unverified.
What is confirmed: Police subsequently registered a case against an unknown person.
What is not established: Whether the alleged rape occurred, who may have been responsible, and whether any official complaint was ignored before the protests.
Protest Erupts Near Girls’ Hostel
The gathering began around 1 am on Sunday near Girls’ Hostel-3 before students from other hostels joined in.
As the crowd grew, protesters moved towards the main entrance and raised demands concerning the alleged incident and hostel safety. By morning, the unrest had spread beyond the immediate hostel area.
NH-44 Blocked
The protest soon spilled onto the Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch of NH-44, disrupting traffic and leaving motorists stranded.
Police later attempted to clear the blockade. The highway remained blocked for more than 15 hours before traffic was restored during the night between Sunday and Monday.
Campus Property Damaged
As tensions escalated, parts of the university campus were vandalised. Window panes, shops, an ATM kiosk and other property were damaged, while several objects and vehicles were set on fire.
Dramatic visuals also showed protesters climbing onto a decommissioned MiG-23UM aircraft and a military tank displayed on the campus.
Police And Protesters Clash
The situation deteriorated further after police tried to persuade protesters to clear the highway. Police said protesters allegedly pelted stones at personnel and vehicles. A lathi charge followed, after which protesters moved towards the campus and continued stone-pelting.
Several police vehicles were damaged and some were set ablaze, while police personnel were injured.
Looting Claims Emerge
Videos circulated from LPU’s Uni Mall appearing to show people taking food, gadgets and other items from shops during the unrest.
Some clips included people describing the items as available for “free”. However, the videos could not independently establish the identities of those involved or whether everyone shown was an LPU student.
Police Presence Swells
Additional forces were brought in from Kapurthala, Jalandhar Rural and Hoshiarpur as the situation deteriorated. Punjab Police later conducted a flag march on the campus, with officials saying more than 2,000 personnel had been deployed.
Police also said there were indications that outsiders may have entered the campus during the unrest. Officials said four or five people were detained late Saturday night after one was allegedly found carrying a walkie-talkie; police later said they were army personnel linked to the family of a student. Their presence was being examined.
Telangana Student’s Death Becomes Part Of Protest
Students also raised questions about the death of 21-year-old Laxmi Chandra, a BTech Agriculture student from Telangana. She died on September 10 after allegedly jumping from the seventh floor of a girls’ hostel. Police said she was taken for medical examination but was declared dead, after which her body was sent to Civil Hospital, Phagwara, for post-mortem and legal procedures.
Police said her mobile phone had been sent for forensic examination and that the circumstances surrounding her death were being investigated.
What is not established: There is currently no established finding in the available material connecting her death to the alleged rape claim.
Internet Services Shut Down
Mobile internet services were suspended in and around the university as the unrest continued.
According to police, the shutdown covered an area of around 3-4 km around LPU and was scheduled to continue until 10 pm on Monday. Authorities said the measure was intended to contain the situation and prevent further circulation of unverified information while tensions remained high.
LPU Denies The Rape Allegation
LPU strongly rejected the allegations, saying there had been no rape on the campus and accusing “anti-social elements” of spreading false and fabricated claims through social media.
The university also released a video featuring three female students from Room 504 of Girls’ Hostel-3, who initially said no rape had occurred there.
However, the students later alleged that they had been instructed on what to say and that the video had been edited before being published. Those claims are themselves disputed and would require independent verification.
Police Begin Formal Investigation
Police registered a case against an unknown person following the students’ complaint and constituted an SIT. Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said investigators would examine forensic samples, CCTV footage and call records before reaching a conclusion.
Police have also said that if the investigation establishes wrongdoing in relation to the student’s death or the other allegations, appropriate action will follow.
Hostel Safety Becomes A Major Demand
Students raised broader concerns about security inside the women’s hostels.
One of their demands was that only women staff should be deployed in girls’ hostels. Police officials said discussions were held with students and the university administration to address the concerns.
Students Describe A Frightening Night
Students who spoke to news agencies described the violence as frightening and said their immediate concern was personal safety. Some alleged that outsiders had entered the campus and contributed to the violence, while others said the situation became particularly tense after nightfall.
Police maintained that they initially exercised restraint and attempted toresolve the students’ grievances through dialogue. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said action would be taken against those involved in vandalism based on CCTV evidence.
Classes Suspended, Exams Postponed
With the situation escalating, LPU announced that regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days from September 28.
The university also postponed mid-term examinations until further notice, with a revised schedule to be communicated separately. Students were allowed to return to their hometowns after consulting their parents or guardians, while those remaining on campus were advised to stay inside their hostels or residences and avoid unnecessary movement.
15. NH-44 Reopens, Situation Returns To Normal
By Monday, police said the situation on campus had returned to normal and that there were no fresh protests.
Authorities said university hostels had been checked following reports of disturbances, which police described as rumours. Traffic on NH-44 was also restored after the prolonged blockade.
What We Know And What We Don’t
Established developments:
- A large student protest took place at LPU.
- The protest involved vandalism, arson, clashes with police and a prolonged NH-44 blockade.
- Police registered a case against an unknown person.
- An SIT has been formed.
- Police are examining forensic evidence, CCTV footage and call records.
- LPU has suspended classes for 10 days.
- Mid-term examinations have been postponed.
- Internet services were temporarily suspended around the campus.
Still under investigation:
- Whether the alleged rape actually occurred.
- Who, if anyone, was responsible.
- Whether the hostel authorities received a complaint and failed to act.
- Whether the September 10 student death involved any foul play.
- The role of outsiders in the violence.
- The circumstances surrounding the conflicting accounts and social-media claims.
For now, the central allegations remain unproven, even as police investigate them. The events at LPU demonstrate how quickly unverified claims can move from social media and student discussions to mass mobilisation, violence and disruption of an entire university’s academic calendar.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The protests were sparked by unverified claims and social media rumors regarding the alleged rape of a female student staying in Girls’ Hostel-3. The unrest also brought renewed attention to the September 10 death of a 21-year-old student from Telangana.
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A sociologist by training and a storyteller by profession, I spend my days shaping news, and when I’m not chasing deadlines, I’m exploring new places, discovering different cultures and tasting unique…Read More
Chandigarh, India, India
September 28, 2026, 2:32 PM IST
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