Punjab's Lovely Professional University on the boil: Students protest over unverified sexual assault claim, police reach campus
PTC Web Desk: Tension was reported at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab early Sunday after an unverified message about the alleged sexual assault of a female student circulated among students, leading to protests on the campus.
The situation reportedly escalated around 2 am, with a large number of students gathering near the girls’ hostel. During the unrest, parts of the campus property were damaged, including window panes and signages. There were also reports of objects being thrown and fires being started at some locations inside the campus.
As the situation intensified, protesters moved towards the university gates and later gathered on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, affecting vehicular movement. Police personnel were deployed in the area to prevent further escalation and protect public and university property.
Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora reached the spot and spoke to students. According to the police, the unrest followed the circulation of an unverified message regarding the alleged sexual assault of a student.
The SSP said that, as of the time of his statement, the police had not received any complaint and had found no evidence substantiating the allegation. He added that efforts were underway to speak with the students and restore calm.
The police said the situation had begun to come under control and expressed hope that normalcy would return shortly.
The developments have also led to a large number of posts and videos being shared on social media. Authorities are expected to ascertain the facts surrounding the allegation while maintaining peace on the campus.
The sexual assault allegation remains unverified, and no conclusion about the reported incident should be drawn until authorities establish the facts.
- PTC NEWS
