New Delhi: Lovely Professional University (LPU) has suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 after students protested over an alleged sexual
assault on its Phagwara campus. The university has also postponed mid-term examinations until further notice.
The protest led to a blockade of NH-44, clashes with police and damage to vehicles and campus property. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh said traffic had since resumed and the situation was normal. Several students began leaving for home on Monday.
CM orders action
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed police to take strict action against those responsible for the unrest, the Chief Minister’s Office said. He also asked Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav to visit the university and assess the situation.
ADGP M F Farooqui said more than 2,000 police personnel had been deployed. He assured families that students in the hostels were safe. Singh said police had checked the hostels and found no disturbance there.
Protest turns violent
Students began protesting near Girls’ Hostel-3 early on Sunday over an allegation that an outsider had raped a student on campus. They claimed the hostel warden had received a complaint but had taken no action. The allegation remains under investigation.
Protesters blocked NH-44 outside the university, leaving motorists stranded for hours. Clashes followed when police tried to clear the road. Jalandhar Rural SSP Harvinder Singh Virk said four or five police vehicles were damaged. Reports from the scene said two vehicles were set on fire. Several police personnel were injured.
Police form SIT
Police registered an FIR against an unknown person based on a complaint from students and formed a special investigation team. Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said investigators would examine forensic samples, CCTV footage and call records before reaching a conclusion. He said student representatives would take part in the process.
Singla also said students had asked for women-only hostel staff and that the university management would address the demand.
University denies allegation
LPU Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu said the university was unaware of any rape incident but would cooperate with investigators. Registrar Monica Gulati called the claims false and released a video in which three residents of the hostel room named in the rumours said no such incident had happened there. The students later alleged in a separate video that the administration had told them what to say and posted an edited clip without their consent.
Protesters also sought an assurance from LPU Founder-Chancellor Ashok Mittal that they would not face action for joining the protest. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring called for transparent and impartial answers to students’ concerns and criticised the state government’s response.
