LPU protest turns violent in Punjab: 3 police vehicles torched in Phagwara
Synopsis
Two campuses, two days, two sets of unverified rumours — and Punjab is now dealing with its worst university-campus unrest in recent memory. At LPU in Phagwara, three police SUVs were torched, a national highway was blocked, and an FIR on rape charges was filed against an unidentified person even as authorities say allegations remain unverified. The speed with which social media rumours translated into arson is the real story here.
Key Takeaways
Lovely Professional University (LPU) , Phagwara, Punjab , witnessed violent student clashes with police on 27 September 2026 .
At least three police SUVs were set ablaze; several police personnel were reportedly injured.
Protests were triggered by unverified social media claims alleging a female student was raped and died by suicide on campus.
Police registered an FIR on rape charges against an unidentified person and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) .
Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia blamed the AAP government and alleged a political conspiracy targeting LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal .
The incident followed similar unrest at Chitkara University, Rajpura , just 48 hours earlier, also sparked by unverified social media rumours.
Violence erupted at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, on Sunday, 27 September 2026, as protesting students clashed with police, setting at least three police SUVs ablaze amid stone-pelting and arson. The unrest was triggered by unverified social media reports alleging that a female student had been raped on campus and subsequently died by suicide — claims that authorities say are still under investigation.
How the Violence Unfolded
The protests had already caused extensive damage to university infrastructure earlier in the day, with window panes smashed, parts of the campus reportedly set on fire, and the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway blocked by agitating students, causing major traffic disruption. As evening fell, the situation escalated sharply: students allegedly began hurling stones and other objects at police personnel, prompting a lathi charge to disperse the crowds. Several police personnel were reportedly injured during the clashes.
Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora told reporters that the escalation followed stone-pelting by students and the torching of a police vehicle. He added that police had made efforts to maintain transparency by sharing relevant material, including CCTV footage, with the protesting students.
FIR Registered, SIT Constituted
Initially, police officials stated they had received no complaint or evidence substantiating the alleged rape. However, authorities subsequently registered an FIR on rape charges against an unidentified person, based on statements provided by students. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to verify the allegations, according to reports. The university, meanwhile, urged students and the public not to amplify what it described as unverified information circulating online.
Political Blame Game Erupts
The incident has drawn sharp political reactions. Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia condemned the alleged sexual assault and blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership — specifically naming Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, and Manish Sisodia — for the situation. In a post on X, Majithia wrote: 'The accused should face the strictest punishment under law. But police inaction fuelled the situation. This was not merely a failure; it was a conspiracy! Ashok Mittal (LPU Chancellor) left AAP and joined BJP. Now, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann and Manish Sisodia allegedly want to shut down LPU to settle scores with him.' The AAP government has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Second Major Campus Unrest in Punjab in 48 Hours
The LPU violence is the second significant episode of student unrest at a private university in Punjab within two days. Late Friday and early Saturday, hundreds of students protested at Chitkara University in Rajpura, Patiala district, after unverified social media rumours claimed two female students were missing. That unrest also escalated into clashes with police, with two police vehicles vandalised and campus property damaged. Both episodes underscore how rapidly unverified information spreading online can mobilise large student gatherings and trigger serious public order breakdowns at university campuses.
Situation on Ground
A heavy police deployment remains in place at LPU as of Sunday evening. Authorities are simultaneously investigating the alleged sexual assault, the arson of police vehicles, campus vandalism, and attacks on personnel. Students on campus maintained that a sexual assault had taken place and accused university authorities of refusing to acknowledge it; they also alleged that outsiders had instigated part of the vandalism. The outcome of the SIT inquiry is expected to be a key determinant of whether the situation stabilises in the coming days.
Point of View
Police, and state government — respond when social media outpaces verified facts. In both the LPU and Chitkara cases, unverified rumours on social media preceded any formal complaint, yet they were sufficient to mobilise hundreds of students into confrontation with police. The Majithia post — alleging a political conspiracy involving AAP leaders seeking to settle scores with a defector chancellor — introduces a charged political dimension that will complicate a dispassionate investigation. The SIT's credibility will be everything: if students distrust its findings, the calm achieved by lathi charges will be temporary. Punjab's pattern of campus unrest also raises a pointed question about university administration transparency — had either institution communicated more proactively, the information vacuum that social media filled might not have existed.
NationPress
28 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the violent protest at LPU in Phagwara?
The protest at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara was triggered by unverified social media reports alleging that a female student had been raped on campus and subsequently died by suicide. Authorities initially said no complaint had been received, but later registered an FIR on rape charges against an unidentified person after students gave statements.
How many police vehicles were set on fire at LPU?
At least three police SUVs were set ablaze during the clashes on 27 September 2026. Several police personnel were also reportedly injured during the stone-pelting and violence.
Has an FIR been registered in the LPU rape allegation case?
Yes. Police registered an FIR on rape charges against an unidentified person based on statements given by students, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to verify the allegations. Initially, police had said they received no complaint or evidence substantiating the claim.
Who is Bikram Singh Majithia and what did he allege?
Bikram Singh Majithia is an Akali Dal leader who condemned the alleged sexual assault and, in a post on X, accused the AAP leadership — Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, and Manish Sisodia — of a political conspiracy to shut down LPU after its chancellor Ashok Mittal left AAP to join BJP. The AAP government has not publicly addressed these specific allegations.
Is this the only recent campus unrest incident in Punjab?
No. A similar episode unfolded at Chitkara University in Rajpura, Patiala district, just 48 hours earlier, when unverified social media rumours about two missing female students sparked large protests, police clashes, and vandalism of two police vehicles. Both incidents highlight how quickly unverified online information can escalate into serious public order situations on campus.
