One of India’s largest private universities has suspended classes after an LPU rape allegation triggered student protests that later turned violent.
Police have registered a case and are investigating whether an alleged rape took place at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab last week. However, investigators have not yet confirmed that the incident occurred.
The university has strongly rejected the allegation. Officials have described the claims spreading on social media as false and baseless.
Police said no student has approached them to report an assault. Investigators have also not identified an alleged victim or suspect.
Authorities have reviewed CCTV footage from the campus as part of the investigation. So far, police say the footage has not provided evidence of an attack.
The situation became tense after rumours spread through student WhatsApp groups. The reports caused fear and anger among students and led to protests across the large university campus.
LPU Rape Allegation Triggers Campus Unrest
The unrest took place over the weekend at the university’s large campus in Punjab. LPU covers about 600 acres and has thousands of students from India and other countries.
Videos and images shared online showed vehicles on fire and large crowds gathering near a major highway. Police officers were also seen using canes as the protests moved outside the university gates.
Police vehicles were damaged during the unrest, while several officers suffered injuries. Parts of the university campus were also vandalised.
The highway was reopened by Monday as the situation became calmer. However, a heavy police presence remained around the campus.
The protests began despite the lack of confirmation about the alleged assault. Police said their investigation is still focused on establishing whether a crime took place and identifying the people involved.
University authorities urged students to rely on official information rather than social media rumours. They said the allegations circulating online had no factual basis.
However, the university’s response did not immediately calm students. Many students left their hostels within hours as concerns about their safety grew.
University Suspends Classes as Investigation Continues
LPU was founded in 2005 by a family whose business began with a small sweet shop. The university has since expanded into a large educational complex with hostels, classrooms and other facilities.
Thousands of young people live and study on the campus, making the university a largely self-contained community.
The LPU rape allegation has now placed a strong focus on student safety, social media rumours and the role of police during campus unrest.
University officials suspended classes as tensions continued. Some important examinations were also postponed.
Students were given permission to return home while authorities worked to restore calm on campus.
Police continue to examine available evidence as they try to determine what happened. Investigators have said that they have not yet found a person who claims to be the alleged victim.
The lack of an identified victim or suspect means that key details of the allegation remain unconfirmed.
The case also highlights how quickly unverified claims can spread among large student communities through messaging apps. In this case, rumours on WhatsApp groups played a major role in increasing fear and triggering protests.
Authorities now face the task of establishing the facts while maintaining security around the university.
The university campus was reported to be calmer by Monday, but police remained deployed as students and staff returned to a more controlled environment.
The investigation into the LPU rape allegation is continuing, and police have yet to establish whether the reported assault actually occurred.
