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World

Students rampage at Punjab university over unverified rape claim as police file FIR and form SIT

Students of Lovely Professional University in Phagwara vandalised the campus and blocked National Highway 44 early on Sunday over unverified claims a female student was raped. Police have registered an FIR against an unknown person and formed a special investigation team; the university calls the reports rumours.

By Sarah Whitfield · · 1 min read

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, went on a rampage early on Sunday, damaging campus property and blocking National Highway 44 over unverified claims that an outsider had raped a female student on university premises.

The protest began near a girls’ hostel at around 1 am on Sunday after students alleged a female student staying there had been raped by a plumber three days earlier and that the hostel warden had taken no action. Videos showed students damaging window panes and flower pots, setting objects alight while chanting “we want justice”, and one student climbing onto a decommissioned MiG-23UM aircraft installed on campus. The road blockade began at around 8 am, causing long traffic queues.

Police have registered a rape case against an unknown person on a complaint by the students and formed a special investigation team (SIT) that will work with student representatives, Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla said, adding that forensic samples, CCTV footage and call records would be examined.

The university denies any incident occurred, calling the claims “rumour”. Registrar Monica Gulati said “anti-social elements” were spreading “false”, “baseless” and “fabricated” allegations, and the university released a video statement from three female students of Room No. 504, Girls’ Hostel-3, saying no rape took place.

The unrest came a day after students at Chitkara University in Patiala allegedly set a police vehicle on fire over unverified claims that two female students had died by suicide on campus.

Sources

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