Protests turn violent at Indian university over alleged hostel rape

Protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, in India’s Punjab province, turned violent on Sunday as students protesting allegations of rape at a university hostel damaged property, blocked a highway and set a police vehicle on fire, according to Indian media reports.

The protests began after students alleged that a female student had been raped by an outsider at the university’s girls’ hostel. Protesters also claimed the hostel administration had been informed but failed to take action.

According to The Tribune, an FIR was registered at Satnampura police station on the statement of a female student, who alleged that a girl was raped at the hostel on September 23 and that the university administration attempted to suppress the matter.

Jalandhar Range Deputy Inspector General Naveen Singla said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the allegations. The team includes Phagwara SP Major Singh, DSP Palwinder Singh, a woman police inspector and representatives of the protesting students, according to The Tribune.

Police said the identities of the alleged victim and accused had not yet been established. Investigators will examine forensic evidence, CCTV footage and phone data, ANI reported.

The controversy centres on claims that a female student staying at Girls’ Hostel 3 was allegedly raped by a plumber or construction worker several days before the protests. Students also alleged that the hostel warden had been informed but no action was taken.

The allegations were amplified by claims on social media that the alleged victim had later died by suicide. However, police were separately investigating the death of another female LPU student from Telangana, who allegedly died by suicide around 15 days earlier, according to Hindustan Times.

Police said the other student’s mobile phone had been seized for forensic examination and that legal action would follow if foul play was established.

University denies allegations

LPU has denied the allegations, describing claims circulating on social media as “false, baseless and fabricated”.

LPU Dean Sorabh Lakhanpal told ANI that the university initially took the students’ concerns seriously and allowed them to view CCTV footage and visit the room identified by protesters. He later described the matter as “entirely rumour-driven” and alleged that outside “anti-social elements” were attempting to disrupt the university’s academic environment.

LPU Registrar Monica Gulati also accused “anti-social elements” of spreading misleading information and said the allegations could be an attempt to damage the university’s reputation, according to The Indian Express.

The university also released a video featuring three female students identified as residents of Room 504 in Girls’ Hostel 3, which protesters had linked to the alleged incident. The students said no such incident had taken place in their room, according to Indian media report.

The newspaper later reported that the three students alleged they had been instructed by university officials about what to say in the video and that parts of the recording were edited before it was posted online. Hindustan Times said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

#WATCH | Phagwara, Punjab: Visuals from outside Lovely Professional University, where the protest by students turned violent.

Students clashed with police and set vehicles on fire. https://t.co/ErVJk1Dryj pic.twitter.com/kTU76p703b

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2026

Police have said the allegations remain under investigation and that investigators will examine digital and technical evidence before reaching a conclusion.

The protests subsequently escalated into clashes, with police saying vehicles were damaged and a police jeep was set on fire. The Tribune reported that students allegedly hurled stones at police.

In response to the unrest, LPU suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed its mid-term examinations until further notice, according to Indian media reports.