Chandigarh: Protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab turned violent after students raised unverified allegations that a female student was allegedly raped on campus and later died by suicide.
Students vandalised parts of the campus, damaged windows and flower pots, and set some property on fire. A group also blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway, causing major traffic disruption.
Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said students claimed that a hostel resident was raped around three days ago and had since returned home. Police registered a rape case based on the statement, he said.
A protesting student alleged that a construction worker raped the woman and that university authorities sent her home. The student also claimed her roommate later said she had died by suicide. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said police had initially received no report of such an incident and described the situation as involving rumours and a possible misunderstanding between students and the university.
Police said they were engaging with student representatives and assessing the property damage.
LPU, meanwhile, called the circulating claims false and misleading, advised students to remain inside their hostels or residences and urged them not to participate in disruptive activities. The university said the campus was safe and appealed for calm.
Police said further legal action would follow based on the investigation and assessment of the damage.
