Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab, India, has suspended classes for 10 days and postponed exams after an unverified allegation of a female student being raped on campus led to protests and violence. Police have registered a case and formed a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) to investigate, but state they are still trying to verify if the alleged rape occurred.
Police official Naveen Singla stated that no student has come forward to report an assault, and investigators have not yet identified an alleged victim or perpetrator. Preliminary examination of CCTV footage has not yielded evidence of an attack, though the investigation is ongoing due to the campus's large size.
The unrest began on 27 September, following rumours on student WhatsApp groups about an alleged rape a few days earlier. Protests escalated, with images and videos showing vehicles in flames, crowds blocking a major highway, and police wielding canes. Police vehicles were damaged, officers were injured, and parts of the campus were vandalised.
LPU authorities described the claims circulating on social media as false and baseless. However, students left the campus, with hostels emptying within hours. The Punjab State Women's Commission has requested details of the investigation and information on student safety arrangements.