Two university campuses in Punjab witnessed violent protests on successive nights after claims concerning girls’ safety and hostels circulated on social media. Chitkara University near Rajpura saw unrest on September 25, while Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara witnessed escalating protests on September 26 and 27.
At Chitkara, rumours about a haunted hostel and allegedly missing students spread online. Police said protesters could not provide identifying details of any missing students and maintained that no student had been reported missing or harmed.
What Happened at Chitkara University?
The controversy reportedly began after frightening sounds were played inside a hostel. A subsequent rumour claimed that the hostel was haunted by a student who had died by suicide several years earlier.
The arrival of an ambulance and a priest on campus added to speculation. University authorities later said the ambulance had brought a student back from hospital, while the priest had visited his daughter.
The rumours eventually triggered a large student gathering. Police vehicles and campus property were damaged during the unrest, while authorities said the claims about missing or harmed students had not been substantiated.
LPU Protest Followed Different Allegations
At LPU, students raised allegations involving the alleged sexual assault of a hostel student and claims that the student later died by suicide. Police registered an FIR against an unidentified person and formed a Special Investigation Team.
Authorities said forensic evidence, CCTV footage and phone data would be examined. Police also stated that preliminary inquiries had not established that the alleged assault occurred at the location identified by protesters.
The allegations remain under investigation.
Violence Spreads Beyond the Campus
The LPU protests escalated beyond university premises, with the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway blocked at various points. Vehicles and property were damaged, and a police vehicle was reportedly set on fire.
Police personnel were also injured during the unrest, while protesters and authorities gave conflicting accounts of the use of force.
Police Reject Link Between Two Incidents
Despite similarities in the timing and the circulation of social-media claims about girls’ safety, Punjab Police has said there is no established connection between the Chitkara University and LPU incidents.
Classes were suspended at both universities following the unrest. Investigations into the separate incidents continue, while authorities face the challenge of addressing student concerns and preventing unverified information from escalating into further violence.
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