Indian University Suspends Classes Amid Unverified Rape Allegation and Violent Protests
Rumors of a student rape triggered unrest and demonstrations that led to vandalism and highway blockades, prompting police to launch an investigation.
Lovely Professional University (LPU), one of India's largest private institutions, has suspended classes for 10 days following protests that erupted over an unverified allegation of rape on campus. The unrest, fueled by social media rumors, led to violence, vandalism, and the obstruction of a major highway.
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against an unidentified person under India's rape law, initiating an investigation into the alleged incident. However, authorities state that no victim has come forward, and initial examination of CCTV footage has not yet provided evidence of an assault. The university has categorically denied the allegations, describing the circulating claims as false and baseless.
The disturbances began in the early hours of September 27, when messages about a purported rape spread through student WhatsApp groups. The alleged victim was described by students and media reports as a plumber, painter, or construction worker, with some claiming the assault occurred on September 23 and criticizing the university for a delayed response.
Hundreds of students eventually gathered and blocked National Highway 44, a key route connecting Delhi and Punjab, for over 15 hours. Images and videos from the scene showed torched vehicles, damaged police property, and confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. Students described a night of fear within the campus, with some reporting that outsiders had entered hostels.
In response to student demands, police formed a seven-member special investigation team. Senior police official Naveen Singla noted that while students had demanded an FIR, they could not provide the victim's name. The registration of an FIR signifies the commencement of an investigation rather than a confirmation of a crime.
Investigators are continuing to review CCTV footage from the sprawling campus. "The campus is quite large, so we haven't been able to see all the cameras yet," police stated on Monday. "We have initially checked the places that the students had mentioned, but we will get to the bottom of this."
The university's attempt to address the rumors included releasing a video of three female students from the room linked to the alleged assault, stating nothing had occurred and requesting an end to the disturbances. However, these students later claimed in a separate video that university officials had instructed them on what to say and edited the recording without their consent, allegations the university has not commented on.
Another claim circulated, attempting to link the alleged rape to the recent suicide of a female student from Telangana. Police have stated that investigations into her death were already underway and that no verified evidence connects the two cases.
Amid the confusion and conflicting accounts, some students reported seeing masked or unfamiliar individuals within the university premises, raising questions about who instigated and participated in the violence. University authorities have suggested that outsiders joined the unrest.
LPU's pro-chancellor Rashmi Mittal expressed disappointment that students believed rumors and noted the presence of outsiders during the unrest. The Punjab State Women's Commission has also requested the FIR and details of the investigation.
The ongoing investigation faces the dual task of determining the veracity of the initial rape allegation and identifying those responsible for the subsequent violence and property damage.
