LPU Protest: How Hostel Rumours Led to Violence and 18-Hour NH-44 Blockade
Unverified claims about an alleged assault at LPU triggered protests, clashes and an 18-hour NH-44 blockade, raising questions about campus safety and communication.
Unverified claims about an alleged assault at Lovely Professional University in Punjab quickly spread through student groups and social media, triggering protests, clashes with police and an 18-hour blockade of the Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch of NH-44.
The unrest began during the night of September 26–27, when claims circulated that a female student at Girls’ Hostel No. 3 had been raped by an outsider. Other versions of the rumours alleged that the student had died by suicide or had been sent home by the university. Students also claimed that hostel authorities had failed to respond to the alleged incident.
With no immediate clarity, the rumours spread rapidly. Students gathered near the hostel and the protest escalated into vandalism, with property damaged and shops inside the campus mall reportedly looted. The agitation later moved to NH-44, where protesters blocked traffic for more than 18 hours.
Students demanded an FIR, an investigation by a Special Investigation Team and action against the alleged accused. Police subsequently registered an FIR against an unknown person under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and formed an SIT.
The situation worsened when protesters clashed with police, damaged vehicles and set police vehicles on fire. Several policemen were injured. Police said they used minimum force and would examine CCTV footage and other scientific evidence.
The university, meanwhile, denied that the alleged rape incident had occurred and accused outsiders of exploiting the situation. Some students also raised broader concerns about campus safety and how previous complaints were handled.
The scale of the campus added to the challenge, with police estimating around 40,000 students and approximately 25,000 residents across multiple hostels. Authorities brought in reinforcements from neighbouring districts as the situation escalated.
LPU has suspended regular classes for 10 days and postponed mid-term examinations. The highway has since reopened, while the SIT investigation continues.
The episode has also renewed concerns about how quickly unverified claims can spread across WhatsApp groups, Instagram and campus networks, particularly when students feel they are not receiving timely information from authorities.
