Police Register FIR Over Sexual-Assault Allegation as Violent Campus Protests Lead to Highway Blockade, Property Damage and Examination Postponement

Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, has suspended regular classes for 10 days and postponed its mid-term examinations after violent student protests erupted on the campus over allegations of sexual assault involving a female student.

The police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations. At the same time, the university has denied that it had information about any such incident and has described the claims circulating on social media as false and fabricated.

The developments have triggered heightened security around the university, while authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding a separate death of a female student reported around two weeks earlier.

How the LPU Protest Started

The unrest began during the early hours of Sunday after claims circulated among students and on social media that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted inside a girls' hostel.

Students alleged that the incident had taken place several days earlier and that the matter had been brought to the attention of hostel authorities. These claims subsequently spread rapidly through student groups and social-media platforms.

However, the allegations remain under investigation and have not been established as fact.

LPU has denied knowledge of any such incident and urged students, parents and the public not to circulate unverified information. The university said the claims being spread online were "false, baseless and fabricated."

Police Register FIR and Form Special Investigation Team

Following the escalation of the protests, police registered an FIR against an unidentified person under rape provisions based on a complaint linked to the allegations.

Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said the investigation would involve scientific and forensic methods, including examination of CCTV footage and phone data.

A Special Investigation Team has also been formed to investigate the matter. Student representatives have been included in the probe, according to police and university statements.

Police have said that preliminary checks at the hostel location identified by protesters did not corroborate the allegation. Three students who were staying in the room identified during the protest reportedly denied that such an incident had occurred there.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations should therefore be treated as unverified until authorities establish the facts.

University Rejects Allegations

LPU has maintained that it had no information about the alleged sexual assault and has rejected the claims being circulated online.

The university said it was cooperating with the police investigation and would provide CCTV footage and other information requested by investigators.

The administration has also appealed to students and parents to rely on official communications rather than unverified social-media claims.

The dispute over what happened and when remains part of the investigation.

Protests Escalate Into Violence

What began as a student protest later turned violent.

Students damaged property on the university campus, including window panes and shops in the university's mall. Objects were also set on fire, while videos from the campus showed protesters climbing on decommissioned military displays installed on the premises.

The unrest subsequently spread beyond the campus as students blocked a stretch of NH-44, the Delhi-Amritsar national highway.

The blockade caused significant disruption to traffic between Jalandhar and Phagwara.

Clashes With Police and Highway Blockade

The situation escalated further when protesters and police clashed.

Police said stones and other objects were thrown at personnel and vehicles. Officers subsequently used a lathi charge while attempting to clear the highway and restore traffic movement.

According to reports, vehicles were damaged and some were set on fire during the violence. Police personnel were also reported injured.

The NH-44 blockade continued for more than 15 hours before traffic movement was restored on Monday morning. Police said the situation was subsequently brought under control, although security forces continued to remain deployed around the university.

More Than 2,000 Police Personnel Deployed

Security arrangements around the university have been significantly strengthened following the violence.

Reports said more than 2,000 police personnel were deployed around the LPU campus and surrounding areas as authorities worked to prevent further escalation.

The deployment covers the university premises as well as key roads and areas affected by the protests.

The restoration of traffic on NH-44 has eased one immediate pressure point, but security arrangements remain in place as the investigation continues.

Separate Student Death Also Being Examined

Police are separately examining the circumstances surrounding the death of another female LPU student from Telangana, which occurred around 15 days before the latest protests.

Police said the student's mobile phone has been seized and sent for forensic examination. Authorities have indicated that further legal action would follow if evidence of foul play emerges.

This separate investigation is relevant because claims circulating online appear to have linked the death with the sexual-assault allegations. Police, however, have not established such a connection.

The two matters therefore remain subject to separate investigation.

LPU Suspends Classes for 10 Days

As a direct response to the unrest, LPU announced that regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days starting September 28.

The university said the decision was taken with the safety and well-being of students in mind.

Students who wish to leave campus have been permitted to travel to their hometowns after consulting their parents or guardians. Those remaining on campus have been advised to stay inside their hostels or places of residence and avoid unnecessary movement or participation in activities connected with the unrest.

Mid-Term Examinations Postponed

LPU has also postponed its mid-term examinations until further notice.

The university said a revised examination schedule would be communicated separately through its University Management System (UMS).

The postponement means students will have to wait for further instructions before returning to the examination schedule. The university's decision is part of the wider measures being taken to restore normalcy and ensure student safety.

Student Demands and Campus Security Concerns

During the protests, students raised several demands related to campus security and the handling of their grievances.

Reports said protesters sought stronger security arrangements in girls' hostels, greater accountability of hostel officials and action if any administrative negligence is established.

Some students also demanded changes concerning the deployment of male staff in areas where female students reside and sought action against officials they believed had failed to respond adequately to their concerns.

The university and police have indicated that the allegations and related grievances will be examined through the investigation process.

Social Media Claims Under Scrutiny

The LPU episode has also highlighted the speed with which unverified allegations can spread through social-media networks.

The initial claims circulated among students before being formally established by authorities. As the information spread, the scale of the protest increased rapidly.

Police and the university have both urged people not to circulate unverified claims.

At the same time, reports about statements made by students in a university-released video have generated additional questions. Hindustan Times reported that three students featured in the video later alleged that they had been instructed to make those statements. Those claims are also disputed and should be treated as allegations pending verification.

What Happens Next

The immediate priority for authorities is to establish the facts surrounding the sexual-assault allegation through the FIR and SIT investigation.

Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage, forensic evidence, phone data and statements from relevant individuals. Student representatives participating in the SIT are also expected to provide inputs from the student community.

Separately, authorities will continue examining the earlier student death and determine whether there is any evidence of foul play.

For LPU, the immediate focus is likely to remain on restoring normal campus operations, maintaining security and communicating the revised examination schedule.

Current Status

As of Monday, September 28:

• LPU classes: Suspended for 10 days from September 28.

• Mid-term examinations: Postponed until further notice.

• Police case: FIR registered against an unidentified person under rape provisions.

• Investigation: Special Investigation Team constituted.

• NH-44: Traffic restored after a prolonged blockade.

• Security: Heavy police deployment remains around the university.

• Allegation: Still under investigation and not established as fact.

• University position: LPU denies knowledge of the alleged incident and has described circulating claims as false and fabricated.

Market Outlook

The LPU incident is primarily a law-and-order and campus-safety matter rather than a financial-market development. Its immediate significance lies in the ongoing investigation, restoration of campus operations and the safety of students and staff.

The central question now is whether the SIT and police investigation can establish the facts behind the allegations using forensic evidence, CCTV footage, phone data and witness statements. Until that process is completed, claims circulating on social media should not be treated as established facts.

The university's 10-day class suspension and postponement of examinations provide authorities time to investigate the matter while security arrangements remain strengthened across the campus and surrounding areas.