More than 2,000 LPU students marched into campus on Saturday night, chanting slogans and setting up barricades near the main gate.
The unrest stemmed from a WhatsApp message that circulated a week earlier, alleging that a female student had been raped and subsequently committed suicide. No police report corroborated the claim.
The protest spilled onto the Jalandhar‑Phagwara National Highway, forcing traffic to halt for nearly three hours. Local commuters reported hearing gunfire and seeing tear gas canisters.
LPU security forces and the Jalandhar Police coordinated a containment strategy, deploying riot squads and negotiating with student leaders. By midnight, the crowd had dispersed, and the highway reopened.
University officials released a statement saying the administration had no knowledge of any crime and urged students to rely on verified sources. The incident has sparked debate over viral misinformation.