LPU protest turns violent: Students vandalise campus over unverified rape, suicide claims

Around 2,000 students reportedly gathered near the girls' hostel after the claims circulated on social media and across the campus.

The protest escalated as students blocked a highway and allegedly vandalised university property, smashed windows and set parts of buildings on fire.

Students block highway, campus witnesses vandalism

The protest began near the girls' hostel before spreading to other parts of the university campus.

Students allegedly damaged window panes, threw bricks and flower pots, and set parts of university buildings on fire.

The protesters also blocked the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill. Police later reached the campus and cleared the road, restoring traffic movement.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kapurthala, Gaurav Toora said the unrest appeared to have followed rumours circulating among students, India Today reported.

Talks between the university administration and students were underway as authorities worked to bring the situation under control.

Police: No complaint linking death to rape claims

Police said a woman had died by suicide four to five days earlier near the university's agriculture department.

However, they said they had received no complaint connecting that death with the rape allegations circulating among students.

“The students claim that there was a woman who was raped. We don't have a complaint about the girl,” SSP Toora was quoted as saying by India Today.

He added that police had not established the identity of the woman or any alleged perpetrator.

According to the police, some students claimed a girl had died by suicide, while others alleged that she had been raped.

Authorities said they had so far found no evidence substantiating the allegations.

LPU calls allegations 'false and fabricated'

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

University Registrar Dr Monica Gulati said the rumours appeared to be part of a “deliberate and concerted attempt” to create confusion among students and damage the university's reputation.

The university urged students, parents and the public not to believe or amplify unverified information and asked them to rely on official communication from the institution.

Police, university hold talks with students

Authorities are continuing discussions with students as efforts are made to defuse tensions on the campus.

Police have said that no complaint regarding the alleged gangrape has been received and that no evidence has so far emerged to corroborate the claims.

The allegations circulating online therefore remain unverified.