LPU Violence: Pro-Chancellor Dr Rashmi Mittal breaks silence, urges students not to believe social media rumours; Watch Video

Babushahi Bureau

Phagwara (Punjab), September 28, 2026: Lovely Professional University (LPU) Pro-Chancellor Dr Rashmi Mittal has broken her silence over the violent unrest at the university, urging students not to believe social media rumours and expressing hurt that they relied on unverified claims instead of approaching the university management.

In a video message, Mittal described the developments as unfortunate and appealed to students to remain calm. She said the university has always maintained a relationship of trust with its students and questioned why students did not approach the management with their concerns before the situation escalated.

Her statement came a day after protests at the Phagwara campus over unverified social media claims that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted by an outsider turned violent, with incidents of stone-pelting, arson, property damage and clashes with police.

The sexual-assault allegation has not been established. Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons and constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. Police have said CCTV footage, forensic evidence, phone data and other technical evidence will be examined. LPU has denied that the alleged incident took place and has described the claims as false, baseless and fabricated.

LPU says outsiders joined unrest

Mittal also referred to the presence of outsiders during the unrest and said the violence resulted in damage to university property. LPU has maintained that anti-social elements exploited the situation and that action would be taken against those found responsible.

The university had earlier released a video featuring three female students who said they were present in the room where the alleged incident was being discussed and denied that a sexual assault had taken place there. The students later raised objections over how the video was recorded and released, adding another layer to the controversy.

Meanwhile, police have significantly increased security at the university. More than 2,000 personnel have been deployed on and around the campus, while students have started leaving for their homes after the university suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28. Mid-term examinations have also been postponed until further notice.

DGP visits campus, says strict action will follow

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav visited LPU on Monday to assess the situation and review security arrangements.

Police have said they exercised restraint during the protest and that action will be taken against those found responsible for vandalism, arson and other offences. The investigation is also examining how the protests escalated and whether anyone from outside the university participated in the violence.

The presence of people carrying walkie-talkies also became a major point of controversy. Early reports and political statements raised questions over possible outsiders on campus. However, police subsequently clarified that the walkie-talkie carriers were off-duty Indian Army personnel, including a Major, who were checking on the safety of colleagues’ children at the university.

Sukhbir Badal alleges ‘larger conspiracy’

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the violence pointed to a “larger conspiracy”. He claimed that outsiders carrying weapons and walkie-talkies had been apprehended by students and questioned the police response.

Badal also accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of using the LPU developments for political purposes and alleged that the unrest was connected to wider political developments. His claims have not been independently established.

The political controversy widened after other opposition leaders also questioned the presence of outsiders and the circumstances in which the protest escalated. Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar called for an investigation to establish whether external or internal forces were involved, while the BJP demanded an NIA probe into the violence. These remain political demands and allegations pending investigation.

AAP defends police handling

Responding to the controversy, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Singh Pannu said the situation at LPU was highly sensitive as the campus has students from Punjab, other states and other countries.

Pannu defended the Punjab Police response, saying the force handled the situation with restraint and professionalism. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had directed DGP Gaurav Yadav to personally visit the university and that the SIT should be allowed to complete its investigation and establish the facts.

Pannu said the government’s priority was the safety of every student and that those responsible for vandalism and damage to public or private property would face action according to law.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also ordered strict action against those responsible for the violence and directed the DGP to assess the situation.

Students raise security concerns

The unrest has also brought student concerns about campus security to the forefront. Students have questioned security arrangements at girls’ hostels and demanded greater accountability over entry and exit procedures.

Some students leaving the university said they were concerned about their safety following the violence. The university has advised students who remain on campus to stay inside their hostels or residences, avoid unnecessary movement and follow official instructions.

The National Highway-44 blockade during the protests also disrupted traffic between Jalandhar and Phagwara before the route was restored.

With classes suspended and a heavy police presence continuing, the immediate situation at LPU has returned to relative calm. However, the investigation into the original sexual-assault allegation, the spread of unverified information and the subsequent violence remains underway.