Calm returns to LPU after violent clashes, but who is the girl at the centre of the storm | Timeline of the protest

PTC Web Desk:  An uneasy calm returned to Lovely Professional University (LPU) on Monday morning after a night of violence, arson and clashes between protesting students and police left parts of the campus and surrounding area damaged.

Heavy police deployment remained in place across the university, while a large number of students began leaving the campus with their belongings after the university announced a 10-day suspension of regular classes. Mid-term examinations, scheduled to begin on October 1, have also been postponed until further notice.

Also Read | LPU under lockdown: Internet suspended, over 2,000 personnel deployed as students go on rampage, clash with cops

Also Read | LPU protest turns violent, police enter campus as students clash with cops; classes suspended for 10 days, mid-term exams postponed

Also Read | From Chitkara to LPU: Why private universities in Punjab hit by protests just ahead of assembly elections 

The unrest began after allegations circulated among students and on social media that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted at Girls Hostel-3 (GH3). The police have registered a case against an unidentified person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to establish what happened.

The allegation itself remains under investigation. LPU has denied that any such incident took place on its campus and has termed the claims false and baseless.

How the protests escalated

The situation started building in the early hours of Sunday when students gathered near the hostel following the circulation of the allegations. The protesters demanded an investigation, stronger security in the girls' hostels and accountability of officials responsible for campus security.

As the gathering grew, protesters moved towards the university's main entrance and later onto the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway (NH-44), bringing traffic to a halt around 4 am.

The blockade disrupted movement between Jalandhar and Phagwara and affected traffic heading towards other parts of Punjab. The police initially managed to persuade the students to clear the road, but the highway was blocked again later.

Meanwhile, the protest on the campus turned violent. University property was damaged and objects were set on fire. Videos circulating on social media showed broken window panes and flower pots, while reports also mentioned damage to furniture, motorcycles and other property.

Some protesters climbed onto a decommissioned MiG-23 aircraft and a military tank displayed inside the university.

The police subsequently registered an FIR against an unidentified person over the sexual assault allegation and formed an SIT. The investigation is examining forensic evidence, CCTV footage and phone data, with student representatives also being included in the probe.

Clashes with police

Tensions rose sharply again on Sunday evening when the police moved to clear the NH-44 blockade.

According to officials, protesters threw bottles and stones at police personnel and targeted police vehicles. The police responded with a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The confrontation then spilled towards the university campus. Several police personnel were injured, while multiple police vehicles were damaged and some were set on fire. Reports said three police vehicles were torched.

As the violence continued, a large police force entered the LPU campus late Sunday night. Senior police officials, including ADGP MF Farooqui and Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla, were involved in efforts to bring the situation under control. The police also conducted a flag march inside the university.

Highway reopened, students start leaving

The NH-44 blockade was finally cleared during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, restoring traffic on the important highway.

By Monday morning, the situation on campus was described by police as peaceful, although a heavy security presence remained at the university gates and other key points.

With classes suspended for 10 days, students began leaving the university in large numbers. Many were seen carrying luggage as they made their way to railway stations, bus stops and other transport points.

The university has around 40,000 students and reports indicated that more than half had left by Monday morning. Parents from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, also reached the campus to take their children home.

Internet remains suspended

Internet services have remained suspended on the campus since midnight. While the shutdown may have limited the circulation of videos and online coordination during the unrest, students said it also caused practical problems, including difficulties with UPI payments and access to online study material.

One student said the ATM inside the campus had also been damaged, leaving students dependent on cash for purchases.

Canteens, however, were reported to be operating normally, with students saying food remained available.

The campus remained barricaded and under tight police security on Monday as Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav visited LPU to take stock of the situation. Special DGP Parveen Sinha and DIG Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla accompanied him and briefed him on the developments.

Probe into allegation continues

Despite the return of relative calm, the central allegation that triggered the protests has not yet been established.

The police are continuing to examine CCTV footage, forensic material and phone data as part of the investigation. At the same time, LPU maintains that the alleged assault did not occur on its campus and has appealed to students and parents not to circulate unverified information.

The immediate focus now remains on maintaining order at the university, assessing the damage caused during the violence and determining the facts behind the original allegation.