The demonstration of students turned violent at Lovely Professional University located in Phagwara in Kapurthala district of Punjab. The arson was carried out after a clash between students and police outside the university. Angry students set fire to many vehicles. According to media reports, the police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protesting students. This only made the matter worse.
Angry students vandalized police vehicles. Some vehicles were also set on fire. A large number of police forces are deployed at the spot. The situation is very tense. After the violence and huge uproar, police from Kapurthala, Jalandhar Rural and Hoshiarpur have been deployed in large numbers in Phagwara.
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Demonstration continued since late Saturday night
Students started protesting on Saturday after claims of rape of a university student. The premises were vandalized on Saturday night and the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway was blocked for 16 hours. It is alleged that some outsider has raped the student. The university administration denied any incident of rape and termed the claim as a rumour. Police registered a case of rape against unknown on the complaint of protesting students. An SIT has also been formed.
Many videos of vandalism went viral on social media
According to media reports, the protest started near the hostel at around 1 am on Saturday night. Within no time the matter became violent. Students broke pots, windows and even the barriers at the entrance of the campus. Some items were also set on fire. A student boarded the MiG-23UM aircraft kept in the campus. Another student climbed onto a military tank. In the viral video on social media, protesters covering their faces with handkerchiefs are seen vandalizing the mall. Also picking up goods from shops. Vehicles are also being vandalized.
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Students allege rape happened three days ago
The students allege that three days ago a plumber had raped a girl student living in the hostel. The warden was informed about the matter, but no action was taken. On the other hand, University Registrar Monica Gulati says that some anti-social elements are spreading false, baseless and fabricated allegations. Several rounds of talks between the university management and students remained inconclusive. However, Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu has assured resolution of the complaints.
A day before LPU, there was a big demonstration of students in Chitkara University, Patiala. Unconfirmed information reached among the students about the alleged suicide of two girl students in the university campus. Enraged by this, the students set fire to a police vehicle.