Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, alleged that the violence and protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab amounted to a 'police-sponsored agitation and hooliganism', accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of orchestrating the unrest because LPU owner Ashok Mittal had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Channi made the allegations while speaking to reporters in New Delhi, calling on authorities to explain why the situation was allowed to spiral.

What Channi Alleged

Addressing the media, Channi questioned the sequence of events, saying the true picture could only emerge after an on-ground visit. 'The actual situation becomes clear only after visiting the spot. If rape occurred there, an FIR and a report should have been registered. Following that, people came from outside and engaged in hooliganism. This was a police-sponsored agitation and hooliganism. The Aam Aadmi Party government did all this solely because the owner of Lovely Professional University, Ashok Mittal, joined the BJP,' he said.

Channi further alleged that the developments had caused significant financial damage, reportedly placing losses at around ₹100 crore. 'Just because of this, an attempt was made to destroy his university. It is being said that a loss of around Rs 100 crore has occurred. Who is responsible for this? Why did the police take no action for so long? If a rape occurred, why was an FIR not filed?' he asked.

Questions Over Police Response and Student Safety

Channi also demanded accountability for what he described as the beating of students on campus. 'After that, students were beaten up severely. Who is responsible for that? Why has no action been taken against the police officers and personnel who brutally beat up the students? And why wasn\'t the situation handled in time?' he said. His remarks represent a direct challenge to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's administration, which has ordered strict action against those responsible for the vandalism.

How the Protests Began

The unrest at LPU was triggered by an unverified social media claim — reportedly originating on Reddit — alleging that a female student had been raped and had subsequently died by suicide. According to students, the message spread through campus networks, and some said information had also allegedly circulated from within the girls' hostel. The protest reportedly began near Girls' Hostel-3 at around 1 a.m. on Sunday. Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of individuals on the campus grounds, with several wearing masks to conceal their identities.

LPU has repeatedly and categorically denied the allegations, calling them false, baseless, and fabricated. Nevertheless, the demonstrations escalated into vandalism and a blockade of a national highway.

Ground Situation and Government Action

By Monday, the campus was placed under heavy security. Classes were suspended for 10 days, and several students began leaving with their luggage as anxious parents arrived to take them home. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed strict action against those responsible. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav visited the campus to review the situation. Police have since registered an FIR and constituted a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

This is not the first time a politically connected university has become the flashpoint of a protest with competing narratives about instigation and legitimacy — the LPU case, however, layers in allegations of state-level partisan targeting, which will complicate any independent inquiry. The outcome of the SIT probe is expected to be closely watched.