CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police on Friday arrested two former students of Chitkara University near Rajpura in Patiala district for allegedly spreading misleading rumours on social media and provoking students during campus unrest last week. Ten others have also been named in the case.
The arrested accused were identified as Himanshu of Nangal in Punjab and Aryan of Ambala in Haryana, both former students of the university.
An FIR was registered at Banur police station on September 29, following which police examined social media activity and messages circulated during the unrest.
Police sources said the investigation found that the two accused had allegedly instigated students through multiple social media groups by spreading misleading messages, contributing to the escalation of the situation on the campus.
The unrest began around 10.30 pm on September 25 and continued into the following day. Police teams have been dispatched to arrest the 10 other accused named in the FIR.
The investigation is also aimed at identifying others allegedly involved in spreading misinformation, instigating students, damaging public property and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.
The two arrested accused have been booked for attempt to murder, wrongful confinement, obstructing a public servant, assault on a public servant, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, disturbing public peace, rioting, unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy.
The unrest erupted after rumours circulated on social media that two girls had gone missing from their hostel. Students also alleged that eerie voices were heard through a speaker in the hostel on September 23.
During the intervening night of September 25 and 26, students gathered on the campus and allegedly damaged two police vehicles and assaulted police personnel Ajay Kumar. Videos of the assault were also posted on social media.
The students alleged that Kumar was under the influence of alcohol when he reached the campus to control the situation.
Initially, police had registered only a daily diary report and said they would counsel the students instead of taking action against them, considering their age.
Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala Harmandeep Hans said that the police remains steadfast in their commitment to maintaining peace.