Phagwara: Satnampura Police have registered an FIR under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against an unidentified person following a complaint by a female student of Lovely Professional University (LPU), amid continuing unrest on the campus on Sunday.
The FIR was registered on September 27 and relates to an alleged incident reported to have taken place on September 23. The development came hours after unverified reports of an alleged rape on the campus triggered protests, property damage and a blockade on the Phagwara-Jalandhar National Highway.
Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted to investigate the case. The team comprises Phagwara SP Major Singh, DSP Palwinder Singh, a woman police inspector and student representatives.
The DIG said the investigation would be conducted with the assistance of forensic and technical experts to establish the facts and examine available evidence. He said the case had been registered on the student’s complaint and further action would be based on the evidence collected.
Protests turn violent
According to reports, unrest began around 2am on Sunday near the girls’ hostel after messages circulated claiming that an outsider had allegedly raped a female student. The reports triggered anger among a section of students, who began protesting against the university administration.
The protest later turned violent, with protesters allegedly damaging university property, breaking window panes, throwing bricks and flower pots and setting parts of some buildings on fire.
As the situation escalated, private security personnel struggled to control the crowd. Students moved towards the main gates, where campus signboards were also allegedly damaged.
The protest later spread to the national highway. At around 4am, students reportedly blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara road, bringing traffic to a halt on the busy route.
A heavy police deployment was made inside and around the university to prevent further damage and restore law and order. Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora reached the spot and supervised the police response. Officers also held discussions with protesters and attempted to persuade them to clear the highway.
Police earlier said no evidence of alleged rape had been found
Before the FIR was registered, SSP Toora had said the unrest was triggered by viral messages concerning an alleged rape involving a female student. At that stage, he said police had found no evidence confirming the allegation and had received no complaint regarding the alleged incident.
He had also confirmed significant damage to university property and the blockade of the national highway.
The subsequent FIR based on the student’s complaint has now moved the matter into a formal police investigation. The allegations in the complaint will be examined and the facts surrounding the alleged offence will have to be established through evidence.
University calls reports false
The university administration strongly rejected the rumours circulating on social media. In a statement issued by Registrar Dr Monica Gulati, LPU described the reports as “false, baseless and fabricated”, saying misinformation was creating unnecessary confusion among students and disturbing the peaceful academic environment.
The university alleged that the manner in which the rumours were being circulated appeared to be a deliberate attempt to damage its reputation. It urged students, parents and the public not to believe, share or circulate unverified information.
LPU Dean Saurav Lakhanpal alleged that several anti-social elements had infiltrated the protests. He denied the rumours of rape on campus and appealed to students to form a group of 10 representatives to work with police in establishing the facts.
He also said the university administration would take legal steps seeking an investigation into the violence and damage caused on the campus.
