Lovely Professional University in Punjab suspended classes after an unconfirmed allegation that a female student was raped on campus sparked widespread unrest and property damage. The sprawling 600-acre institution, founded in 2005 and home to thousands of domestic and international students, became the center of protests that began in the early hours of 27 September when rumors circulated through student messaging groups claiming an assault had occurred days earlier.
The demonstrations quickly escalated beyond the campus, with hundreds of protesters blocking National Highway 44, a major route between Delhi and Punjab, for more than 15 hours. Videos documented vehicles on fire, damaged property, and police using force against crowds. Students reported experiencing fear during the disturbances, with some barricading themselves in rooms. By the following day, the highway had reopened and campus security increased, though unrest had already prompted mass departures from student hostels.
Police registered a formal case against an unidentified person and established a special investigation team to examine the allegations. However, investigators emphasized significant obstacles to verification: no student has filed a complaint identifying herself as a victim, no perpetrator has been identified, and preliminary examination of security footage has not revealed evidence of an unauthorized entry into a hostel room. Authorities noted the campus’s size necessitates continued review of additional surveillance recordings.
The situation became more complex when the university released a video featuring three female students from the hostel room in question, in which they denied any assault occurred. These same students subsequently alleged in another video that university officials had directed their statements, edited the recording, and posted it without authorization. Additionally, some protesters attempted to connect the alleged rape to a recent suicide of a female student, though police indicated investigations into that death were already underway with no verified connection established.
The university suspended regular classes for 10 days, postponed key examinations, and encouraged students to return home. Authorities also reported that individuals from outside the campus were present during protests, though investigators were still working to identify them and determine their involvement in the violence.
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