A protest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, over an unverified social media claim about the alleged rape and suicide of a female student escalated into vandalism, arson and a prolonged blockade of the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway.

The unrest, which began around the girls' hostel, saw large groups of students gather on campus, while videos circulating online showed masked individuals, damaged property and objects being set on fire. By Monday, the university was under heavy security, regular classes had been suspended for 10 days and students were leaving the campus as parents arrived to take them home.

Punjab Police have registered an FIR and constituted a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT). Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav also visited the campus and said the investigation would examine the violence and identify those responsible.

How the LPU Protest Began

The protest reportedly started around 1 am on Sunday near Girls' Hostel-3 after messages circulated on social media claiming that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted and later died by suicide.

According to an LPU student quoted by NDTV, students received a message on Reddit alleging that a girl had been raped and had died by suicide two days later. The student said protesters initially believed the allegation and gathered to demand answers.

The allegation, however, had not been independently verified when the protest began. Earlier police statements indicated that no such rape complaint had been reported to them. At the same time, later police action included registering a rape case based on a statement received during the episode, underscoring that the allegations and surrounding circumstances were still subject to investigation.

As more students joined the protest, the situation deteriorated and parts of the campus were damaged.

Vandalism, Fire and Highway Blockade

What began as a student protest eventually turned violent.

Visuals circulated from the campus showed damaged window panes and other university property. Some objects were also set on fire. Protesters subsequently blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, causing significant disruption to traffic. The blockade continued for more than 15 hours before traffic movement was restored on Monday.

Videos also showed people wearing masks inside the campus. Separate visuals showed individuals climbing onto an Indian Air Force MiG-23UM aircraft and a military tank displayed on university grounds.

The identity of the people involved in the vandalism has become an important part of the investigation. Students interviewed after the violence said they could not determine whether everyone involved was a student or whether outsiders had entered the campus.

Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to establish who participated in the violence.

Students Raise Questions Over Who Was Involved

Students told NDTV that many people involved in the violent incidents had covered their faces.

One student said masked individuals were difficult to identify and alleged that some people appeared to be carrying iron rods. The student also suggested that people from outside the university may have been present during the violence. These claims have not been independently established and are part of the broader investigation.

The question of outside involvement has also emerged in police investigations. However, Punjab Police have subsequently said that people found carrying walkie-talkie sets on campus were identified as Indian Army personnel from a Special Forces unit, rather than outsiders involved in the unrest.

Police Enter Campus, FIR and SIT Probe

On Sunday night, a police force led by Additional Director General of Police M.F. Farooqui entered the university campus. Senior officers and police personnel later conducted a flag march.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said police had deliberately exercised restraint because many of the protesters were students. According to him, officers initially attempted to address student grievances through dialogue rather than using force.

An FIR has been registered in connection with the incident and a high-level Special Investigation Team has been formed. Authorities have said the investigation will examine the sequence of events, property damage, arson and the identities of those responsible.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also directed strict action against those responsible for the violence.

What LPU Says About the Allegations

Lovely Professional University has repeatedly rejected the allegation that a female student was raped on campus.

The university described the social media claims as false, baseless and fabricated, while advising students not to participate in unrest and to remain inside their hostels or residences.

The administration also released a video featuring three female students from Room 504 of Girls' Hostel-3, the room referenced in the allegations. In the video, the students initially said that no such incident had taken place in their room.

However, the controversy deepened after the same students later appeared in another video and alleged that they had been told what to say and that their earlier video had been edited and shared without their consent.

The conflicting versions have added another layer to the investigation. The authenticity, context and circumstances surrounding both videos will need to be established through evidence rather than social media claims.

Classes Suspended for 10 Days

In the aftermath of the violence, LPU announced that regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days. Mid-term examinations were also postponed amid the unrest.

Heavy police deployment was reported around the campus as students began leaving with their belongings. Parents also arrived at the university to take their children home amid concerns over the situation.

The developments have left several key questions unanswered, including what exactly triggered the original allegation, whether any crime occurred, who circulated the initial claim and who was responsible for the subsequent vandalism and arson.

Why Verification Matters in the Social Media Era

The LPU episode highlights how quickly an unverified claim can spread when thousands of people receive information simultaneously through social media platforms and messaging networks.

In this case, students said they believed the allegation was genuine and gathered to demand justice. However, the underlying claim had not been independently established when the protest began.

The subsequent violence has created a separate criminal investigation involving vandalism, arson and public disruption. Establishing facts through CCTV footage, statements, digital evidence and other forensic material will therefore be critical.

Key Highlights

• Protest erupted at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara over an unverified rape-suicide claim.
• Students initially gathered near Girls' Hostel-3.
• The protest later escalated into vandalism and arson.
• Some people seen in videos were wearing masks.
• The Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway was blocked for more than 15 hours.
• Police registered an FIR and formed a high-level Special Investigation Team.
• Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav visited the university and reviewed the situation.
• LPU denied the alleged campus rape claim and called the allegations false and fabricated.
• Three students featured in an LPU clarification video later disputed how their video was presented.
• Regular classes at LPU have been suspended for 10 days.
• Mid-term examinations have also been postponed.
• Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to establish responsibility for the violence.

Professional Disclaimer & Third-Party Reference

This article is based on information reported by established third-party news organisations, including NDTV, The Indian Express and The Tribune, along with statements attributed to Punjab Police, Lovely Professional University and other officials. The allegations surrounding the reported sexual assault and suicide remain subject to investigation. Claims made by students, university representatives or other parties should not be treated as independently established facts unless confirmed by competent authorities or supporting evidence.

Conclusion

The LPU unrest has moved from a social media-driven student protest to a formal police investigation involving allegations, conflicting accounts, vandalism and arson. With an SIT now examining the case, the focus will be on establishing what actually happened, verifying the original claims and identifying those responsible for the violence.