Campus violence in Punjab triggers political malaise; the university blames foreigners

A day after intense protests and violent clashes between students and police at the Lovely Professional University Phagwara campus over the alleged rape of a female student, opposition parties in Punjab slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state and demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

On Sunday, protesters blocked NH-44 near Phagwara, vandalized university property, blocked traffic and clashed with the police. The students alleged that a woman was raped by a plumber in a hostel last week and alleged that no action has been taken so far in the matter. The private institute LPU has denied the allegations. The alleged victim has not yet been identified. The police have registered an FIR containing allegations of rape against unknown persons and a special investigation team has been constituted to investigate the matter.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav visited the university on Monday and said those involved in the vandalism would face legal action, adding that the police had maintained restraint.

“Involvement from the outside”

Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after quitting AAP in April this year, is the founder and chancellor of LPU, has quit AAP.

Former BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar said, “The sudden escalation of a peaceful protest by students at LPU after the involvement of armed outsiders is a matter that needs investigation. It should be probed whether under the guise of emotions of the youth, this was an attempt to settle political scores or inflame tension in Punjab by agents of neighboring countries or operating separatists from other countries.”

He demanded that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigate the incident.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that AAP was allegedly using LPU students as pawns for revenge.

“After Ashok Mittal joined the BJP, outsiders were brought in from Delhi to start an agitation. Video footage shows people carrying walkie-talkies, bats and guns while the police remained mute spectators!” he said demanding a central government inquiry into the matter.

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also demanded an independent inquiry into campus violence in the state. He said there seems to be a pattern to the violence in the two university campuses, referring to LPU and Chitkara University.

The incident at LPU came just days after students of Rajpur-based Chitkara University in Patiala district staged a campus protest, alleging that two female students had committed suicide on campus and their bodies were disposed of. However, after an initial investigation, police said the allegations were baseless.

“The spontaneous violence at two private university campuses in Punjab within a few days was an ominous sign and was yet another example of the total collapse of law and order in the state,” Mr Warring said.

‘Campus safe’

Although several students left the campus after the university announced a 10-day suspension of classes and postponed its mid-term exams for students, authorities said Monday that the campus was safe. The authorities held a meeting with the police, civic administration and student representatives and reiterated that foreigners were to be blamed for the riots a day earlier.

In a statement, LPU Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh said student representatives were unanimous that the unrest was primarily a result of foreigners entering the campus illegally with the intention of disturbing the peace.

The matter is being investigated and appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law, the statement said.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the university, in an attempt to appease the protesters, released a video of three female students allegedly denying allegations that a male student was raped on campus. The three students said Monday that the institution did not take their consent before releasing the video and that they faced abuse and harassment.

“Our video was edited and posted on Instagram. We had no idea about it and no consent was taken from us. Now we are being unnecessarily abused,” said one of the students in a short video clip that is doing the rounds on social media.

Published – 29 Sep 2026 01:13 IST