Police deny rape claims after violence erupts at Punjab university

Violence broke out at Lovely Professional University in Punjab after rumours circulated that a female student had been raped or had died by suicide, prompting police to deny that the claims had been substantiated. About 2,000 students gathered near the girls’ hostel in Phagwara on Saturday. The protest later escalated as students blocked a highway, damaged university property, smashed windows and threw bricks and flower pots.

Parts of university buildings were also set on fire. Senior Superintendent of Police Kapurthala Gaurav Toora said police had no complaint linking the reported death of a woman to the rape allegations. He said a woman had died by suicide four or five days earlier near the university’s agriculture department, but the identity of the woman and any alleged perpetrator had not been established.

“To date, we have found no substantiating evidence to corroborate the incident, and no complaint has been received by us,” Toora said. Police also said social media allegations about a worker’s involvement had not been confirmed. Authorities cleared the highway and restored traffic, while talks continued between students and the university administration.

Police said the situation had been brought under control. The university rejected the allegations as “false, baseless and fabricated”. Registrar Monica Gulati said anti-social elements were using social media to spread misinformation and urged students, parents and the public to rely on official channels.

The university described the circulation of the claims as an attempt to damage its reputation.