LPU Campus Violence: How A Viral Rape Claim Triggered Massive Student Protest In Punjab

A protest at Lovely Professional University escalated after an alleged incident involving a student spread online. Here is the complete timeline of the claim, university response, police action and campus unrest.

Post Published By: Sreeja Chowdhury

Updated : 28 September 2026, 8:42 AM IST

Smoke billows from a fire during a protest by students at the LPU campus (img:X)

Phagwara: A protest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara turned tense after an alleged incident involving a student triggered widespread discussions on campus and social media. The situation escalated as hundreds of students gathered to protest, leading to clashes, property damage and disruption of traffic movement.

The university administration and police later said that several claims circulating online were not verified, while an investigation was initiated to examine the matter.

How The LPU Campus Unrest Began

The controversy started after information about an alleged crime involving a female student began spreading among students and on social media platforms.

Also Read: LPU Protest Explodes After Viral Claims, FIR Filed as Students Block Highway 

Following the circulation of these claims, students gathered on campus seeking answers and demanding action from the authorities. The protest gradually intensified, with a large number of students joining the demonstration.

University Rejects Viral Claims

LPU registrar Monica Gulati responded to the allegations and said that information being circulated online was misleading. The university maintained that unverified reports had created confusion among students and affected the campus environment.

The administration urged students to avoid relying on rumours and wait for official updates from authorities.

Police Launch Inquiry Into The Matter

Punjab Police reached the university campus after protests intensified. Officials said they were looking into the allegations and trying to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

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Authorities also monitored the situation as students raised several concerns during the protest. Further action is expected based on the findings of the investigation.

Protest Turns Violent, Property Damaged

During the unrest, some protesters allegedly damaged university property and created disturbances inside the campus. Traffic movement was also affected after students blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway.

Police teams were deployed to control the situation and restore normalcy. Officials later said the situation was brought under control.

The incident has brought attention to the impact of unverified information spreading rapidly online and the challenges it creates for educational institutions and law enforcement agencies.