How did social media rumors lead to protests in two private universities in Punjab?

Story so far: In the last week of September, there was a wave of riots at two private universities in Punjab – Chitkara University and Lovely Professional University (LPU). The unrest sparked rumors that surfaced and spread on social media. In both cases, rumors spread online faster than facts could be verified, leading to violent protests on campus.

What were the rumors in Chitkara?

On the night of September 25-26, students at Chitkara University in Rajpura, Patiala district, protested, alleging that two female students committed suicide on campus and their bodies were disposed of. They allegedly damaged two police vehicles, apart from assaulting a police officer.

Students also claimed that the mysterious voices were coming from the university’s girls’ hostel, although preliminary police findings suggested that it was a prank.

An initial investigation by the police found allegations that the students had disappeared and died by suicide to be unfounded. Police have arrested two people – both former students of the university – for provoking students by spreading rumours.

What happened at LPU?

A day later trouble also started at the LPU at Phagwara in Kapurthala district. Distraught students ran amok in the campus following rumors that a foreigner had raped a female student at the university’s GH-3 hostel. Videos on social media showed protesters at LPU, some with their faces covered, destroying campus property. On the morning of September 27, they blocked National Highway-44 and demanded that the police register an FIR in the case.

Police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person under Section 64 (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and a special investigation team is probing the matter. However, almost a week later, the alleged victim remains unidentified. The students have not yet been able to determine whether they know the person in question, according to the police.

Despite the police registering a case, the protesters continued to block the National Highway and pressed for more demands regarding the students. Clashes broke out between the police and students, with protesters allegedly throwing bottles and stones at the police and setting fire to some police vehicles. The police responded with lathi charge. The next morning, the situation was brought under control and the state highway opened to traffic.

The police registered an FIR against the protesters under Sections 326(g), 324(4) and 309(4) of the IPC — relating to arson, damage to property and robbery — and Section 4 of the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Act, 2014.

They also registered an FIR under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 132 (assault or use of criminal force to distract a public servant from the discharge of his official duty), 221 (willfully obstructing any public servant in the discharge of his official public duties), 326(b) (punishment for any offence, mischief, lowering of a river or navigation of a public road, bridge or canal). 326(g) (using fire or explosive substance to destroy a building ordinarily used as a place of worship, human habitation or a place for keeping property) and 324(5) (causing loss or damage to property amounting to ₹1 lakh or more) BNS.

Police have arrested nine people so far.

How did the two universities respond?

In a statement, Chitkara University dismissed the reports circulating on social media about the alleged suicide as false.

The LPU alleged that certain “anti-social elements” were spreading false, baseless rumours. It released a video statement with three female students from Room No. 504 of the GH-3 hostel claiming that no such incident took place.

How did this lead to political failure?

Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal is the founder and chancellor of LPU. In April, he left the ruling AAP and joined the BJP. Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said when someone quits AAP out of frustration with its “misguided politics”, the party expresses its political displeasure through “vindictive acts”. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that AAP used LPU students as pawns for revenge.

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a status report from the Punjab government on the probe into the LPU violence while hearing a petition seeking a CBI probe into the vandalism and violence.

In both Chitkara University and LPU, rumors of suicide and rape spread online faster than facts could be verified, leading to violence.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 01:23 IST