Late last night, a wave of students surged through LPU’s gates, chanting slogans that quickly turned into shouts as they smashed glass panes and set fire to parts of the administration block. The eruption spread to the campus’ main courtyard, leaving scorch marks on the stone walkway and a plume of smoke that drew the attention of a nearby traffic camera. By dawn, the protest had spilled beyond the university perimeter, with a swarm of students blocking the Jalandhar‑Phagwara national highway and grinding traffic to a halt.
Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora told reporters that, despite the chaos, his force could find no evidence of a rape incident on campus. "We received information last night about students blocking the highway," he said. "We entered the scene, assessed the damage, and discovered that the outcry was triggered by unverified claims of an alleged rape and subsequent suicide."
LPU’s administration issued a statement urging students to ignore the rumors, labeling them "false and misleading" and reminding residents to stay inside hostels. The university also warned against any disruptive activity and pledged to maintain a safe environment.
The rumor began when a female student allegedly claimed a construction worker had assaulted her and that she had taken her own life. No police report or medical record corroborates the story, and the university has not received any official complaint about the alleged assault.
Police are conducting a property damage assessment and will convene a meeting between campus officials and student representatives later this week. Legal action will be taken if any criminal allegations are substantiated, while the investigation into the outbreak continues.