Students at Lovely Professional University protested over unverified allegations of sexual assault, with clashes, arson and a highway blockade forcing the university to suspend classes.
The Editorial Team of Behind The Headlines reports that Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, has suspended regular classes for 10 days after student protests over an alleged sexual-assault incident turned violent. The allegations remain under investigation, while the university has denied that the reported incident took place on campus.
What triggered the LPU protests?
The unrest began after claims circulated among students that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted inside a hostel and later died by suicide. Students also alleged that an outsider was involved.
However, the claims were not independently established when the protests began. The university said the allegations were false and fabricated, while police registered a case against an unknown person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to establish what actually happened.
The lack of clarity over the alleged victim and the rapid spread of claims through social media became a major factor in the escalation. Police have said investigators are examining CCTV footage and other digital and technical evidence. Five student representatives have also been included in the investigation process.
How did the protest turn violent?
What began as a student demonstration escalated over the weekend. Protesters blocked NH-44, the major Delhi-Amritsar highway passing by the university, disrupting traffic for more than 15 hours.
Police said some protesters threw bottles and stones at personnel and attacked police vehicles. Police subsequently used a lathi charge as they attempted to clear the highway. Violence then spread back towards the university campus, where property was damaged and vehicles were set on fire. Several police personnel were injured.
Videos circulating from the campus showed damaged property, fires and students confronting security personnel. Authorities subsequently brought in a large police contingent to restore order. More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed around the university, according to senior police officials.
What does LPU say?
LPU has rejected the central allegations and said rumours were being circulated through social media and other channels.
The university also released a video featuring students who said they lived in the hostel room where the alleged incident was reportedly said to have occurred. They denied that such an incident had happened there.
LPU Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu also said that no report or complaint concerning the alleged sexual assault had reached him before the protests escalated.
The university has nevertheless taken precautionary measures while the investigation continues.
What has the Punjab Police done?
Police have registered a case against an unknown person and constituted an SIT to investigate the allegations.
The investigation is expected to examine CCTV footage, digital evidence and statements from students and other people connected to the claims. Police have also continued a substantial deployment around the campus following the violence.
By Monday, authorities said the situation had come under control and traffic on NH-44 had been restored. A police presence remained outside the university.
Why has LPU suspended classes?
LPU announced that regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days from September 28, 2026. Mid-term examinations have also been postponed until further notice.
Students have been allowed to return to their hometowns after consulting their parents or guardians. Those remaining on campus have been advised to stay inside their hostels or residences and avoid unnecessary movement.
What happens next?
The central question is now whether the alleged sexual-assault incident actually occurred and, if so, who was responsible. At present, the competing claims from students, the university and authorities have not produced a publicly established account of the alleged incident.
The police investigation will therefore be important in separating verified evidence from rumours that spread during the protests. At the same time, authorities face the immediate challenge of maintaining campus security while allowing students' concerns to be investigated lawfully.
The LPU episode also shows how quickly unverified allegations circulating among a large student population can turn into a wider law-and-order crisis, particularly when social media accelerates the spread of information before facts are established.