On September 27, 2026, students at Lovely Professional University in Kapurthala erupted in protest after a Reddit post alleged a rape. The unrest culminated in vandalism that cut off National Highway‑44 for more than 15 hours, delaying commuters and disrupting regional traffic.
LPU dean Dr Sorabh Lakhanpal told NDTV that investigators found no evidence to support the alleged assault. He called the claim a "rumour rage" and blamed masked outsiders for the chaos.
Students initially gathered peacefully at 11 pm, demanding an FIR and access to CCTV footage, according to Lakhanpal. Police intervention the next morning restored order, but damage to campus buildings and a 10‑day suspension of classes were imposed.
Punjab Police have announced that they will file charges against the perpetrators of vandalism and are reviewing the incident for possible criminal liability. The university has pledged full cooperation and has set up a committee to investigate the allegations.
For many students, the unrest has meant a sudden return home; one family from Jalandhar said they were forced to leave campus overnight due to the chaos.