CHANDIGARH: Lovely Professional University (LPU) suspended classes for 10 days starting Monday after protest over an alleged rape turned violent on Sunday. The university also suspended internet services in the campus and postponed midterm exams until further notice.
The violence on the LPU campus came a day after students of Chitkara University in Patiala staged protests and allegedly set a police vehicle on fire over unverified claims that two female students had died by suicide on the university premises.
While the shutdown of LPU may have helped restore calm by preventing students from posting videos and updates or coordinating through online platforms, it also created difficulties for students. They said they were unable to use UPI for purchases or access study material online.
Traffic movement on National Highway-44 (Delhi-Amritsar Highway) in Phagwara near Jalandhar, which had been blocked by protesting students, has been restored after the volatile situation was brought under control.
Students at LPU on Sunday allegedly vandalised property and blocked a stretch of the Delhi-Amritsar highway outside their campus over claims that an outsider had raped a female student on the university premises.
Viral videos on social media showed protesters, purportedly students, damaging window panes and flower pots on campus and setting some objects on fire, with cries of "we want justice" echoing in the background.
More than 2,000 police personnel have been deployed at the private university campus and Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, accompanied by Special DGP (Law and Order) Parveen Sinha, reached the campus and assessed the situation.
Yadav said the trouble began on the intervening night of September 26 and 27, when rumours about "certain incidents" spread on the campus.
He said many unsubstantiated rumours were circulated on social media and urged people to believe only authentic information.
"There was some vandalism, and a part of the gate was set on fire. Senior police officers, including DIG Jalandhar Range Navin Singla and SSP Kapurthala, reached the university after receiving information about the situation", Yadav said.
When asked whether the violence seemed to be 'pre-planned', as walkie-talkie sets, weapons and other material were found, Yadav said, "every incident will be looked into in a threadbare manner; action will be taken against all those on a merit basis who have taken law in their hands.’’
Yadav said police had also examined CCTV footages that purportedly showed men near the women's hostel. The footage and the presence of outsiders are being investigated as part of a probe into the violence.
"Walkie-talkies have been found here. We have also found the role of outsiders because walkie-talkies have been found. Secondly, there is viral CCTV footage of the inside premises which shows that there were men who came close to the women's hostel, which is being questioned, because of which the violence probably occurred," he said.
Yadav further said that the police subsequently opened a dialogue with students who had grievances against the university administration.
He also said the police deliberately avoided using force against the students and instead acted as a bridge between them and the university administration.
He added that an FIR was registered in the rape case, and action will be taken against all those involved as per law and that nobody would be spared, regardless of their links, as the law would take its own course.
Yadav said the police would use CCTV footage to identify those involved in vandalism and other offences.
When asked about consecutive incidents of violence at two private universities in the state, first at Chitkara University in Patiala and then at LPU, Yadav said the police would investigate the matter in a professional manner and provide updates.
"The police played a constructive role as the students of the LPU had grievances with the university administration; using force was easy, but we used self-restraint to bring the situation under control. Police officers took the view that since there was some provocation, action was taken, and we would use minimum force. A very conscious decision was made not to use force on the students," he added.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered strict action against those responsible in connection with the alleged rape incident and directed DGP Yadav to personally assess the situation at the university.
On the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, the Punjab Police conducted a flag march at the university. Police also registered a rape case against an unknown person based on a complaint by the students, and an SIT has been formed to investigate the matter, even though the university described the claims of the crime taking place on the campus as 'rumours'.
LPU authorities have started clearing the trail of devastation left behind after the violence, as cranes were brought in to remove police vehicles that were set on fire on the flyover outside the campus on Sunday night.
The university has begun cleaning up damaged property following the protests, with officials reporting the presence of “masked outsiders who even reportedly carried walkie-talkie sets with them”.
Late on Sunday evening, after the protesting students allegedly pelted stones at police and attacked their vehicles, leaving several cops injured, a heavy force led by Additional DGP of Punjab Armed Police MF Farooqui entered the campus and held a flag march. Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh, DIG (Jalandhar Range) Naveen Singla and Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora were among the officers who accompanied the force.
On Sunday evening, police were trying to evict protesters who had been blocking NH-44 outside the campus since 8 am when some students allegedly threw water bottles at them. They also clashed with police, who resorted to a lathi charge, prompting the students to run towards the campus. However, once inside, the students allegedly started pelting stones indiscriminately at the police.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Satinder Singh also dismissed reports of disturbances inside the hostels as rumours, saying police had checked all hostel facilities. "First of all, reports of disturbances in the hostels were merely rumours. All hostels have been checked, and there are no issues. Traffic has resumed, and the situation is normal," Singh said. He also said that other issues would be resolved through discussions with students and assured families that all students were safe.
Meanwhile, the Punjab State Women Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the incidents reported at LPU and Chitkara University.
The commission said it did not endorse the allegations circulating in connection with the two universities and said its focus was on the safety, dignity and rights of women students.
Raj Lalli Gill, chairperson of the Commission, said that they have sought a detailed clarification on the entire matter, copies of the FIRs, and comprehensive reports on the safety and security measures in place for students on both campuses. "Students' safety is the prime concern. Accountability and transparency are imperative," she said.
The Punjab government is facing criticism over the two incidents that have taken the state by storm.