LPU Protest: Classes Suspended for 10 Days as Police Probe Rape Allegation

Students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, staged protests over the weekend following reports of an alleged sexual assault involving a female student. This was circulated widely on social media and claims were made that the student later died by suicide. Police have registered a rape case against an unidentified person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), while the university has denied the allegations and described them as false and fabricated. The protests later turned violent, leading the university to suspend classes and postpone mid-term examinations.

LPU Protests Turn Violent

The protests began after messages about the incident circulated among students via social media. According to reports, students gathered near the girls' hostel and demanded answers from the university administration. The situation intensified on Sunday, September 27. The protesters allegedly damaging university property, setting parts of the campus on fire and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway.

Police vehicles were also attacked and set on fire, while several police personnel and students were reportedly injured during the unrest. Police used force to disperse protesters after attempts to clear the highway failed. Although, police have since registered a rape case against an unknown person, a seven-member SIT has also been constituted to investigate about what happened. Authorities have not confirmed the broader claims circulating online about the student's alleged death by suicide.

LPU Denies Allegations, Students Raise Questions

LPU has rejected the allegations. The Registrar Monica Gulati says the claims circulating on social media as “false, baseless and fabricated”. The university said misleading information was creating confusion and disturbing the campus environment and urged students and parents to rely on official communication.

The controversy took another turn after three female students whose room number had been linked to the allegations appeared in a video released by the university. They initially said that no such incident had taken place in their room. But later in a video, the students alleged that they had been instructed on what to say and that their earlier video had been edited and uploaded without their consent. These claims are also allegations and are expected to be examined as part of the broader investigation.

Classes Suspended, Exams Postponed

During the unrest, LPU announced that regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days from September 28, 2026. The university also postponed its mid-term examinations until further notice and announced, a revised examination schedule would be communicated separately through its University Management System. The university advised students who wished to return to their hometowns to do so in consultation with their parents or guardians.

Those remaining on campus were asked to stay inside their hostels or residences and avoid unnecessary movement or involvement in unrest. The investigation remains ongoing. At present, the central allegation of sexual assault has not been established by the authorities, while the police investigation and SIT probe are expected to determine the facts surrounding the complaint and the events that triggered the protests.

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