Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, has suspended classes for 10 days and postponed midterm examinations after a student protest turned violent. Students began leaving the campus on Monday, while more than 2,000 police personnel were deployed in and around the university.
The unrest followed an allegation that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. That allegation has not been verified. Police have registered a case and formed a special investigation team to examine it. The university has denied that the reported incident took place.
During Sunday’s protest, vehicles were set on fire, property was damaged and traffic was blocked on a nearby national highway. Police said the road had reopened by Monday. Some students told The Indian Express they were worried about people from outside the university entering the campus during the disorder. University officials said students who chose to remain in their hostels could do so, but advised them to avoid unnecessary movement.
Punjab’s chief minister has called for action over the violence. Authorities now face two immediate tasks: establishing the facts behind the original allegation and keeping students safe while the investigation proceeds. Classes are scheduled to remain suspended for 10 days, although the university has not yet announced a new date for the postponed examinations.
