A private university in Punjab, Lovely Professional University (LPU), has suspended classes and postponed mid-term exams after protests over an alleged rape turned violent on Sunday. Protesters clashed with police, vandalized property, and set fire to objects on campus.

The unrest erupted after social media claims that a female student was raped on campus by an outsider and later died by suicide. Protests escalated as demonstrators clashed with police, pelted stones, smashed windows, and set fire to objects. Some students later claimed the vandals were not students but outsiders. The university has suspended regular classes for 10 days, allowing students to travel home while advising those remaining to stay in hostels and avoid unnecessary movement. Over 2,000 police personnel were deployed. Protesters also blocked the national highway between Jalandhar and Phagwara, causing traffic disruptions. On Monday, police said the situation was under control and traffic restored.

Police have yet to confirm whether a student was raped on campus. LPU has denied the rape, calling the claims "false, baseless and fabricated rumors." The university posted a video with three female students who it said reside in the hostel room where the alleged incident occurred, purportedly denying the rape. However, media reports on Monday said the same girls later appeared in a separate video, claiming they were instructed on what to say and that their clips were "trimmed" and used without consent.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken note and directed the Director General of Police to visit the campus. The Punjab State Women Commission is seeking a detailed report. Meanwhile, India's Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of recent rape cases in Delhi and the National Capital Region, drawing parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya case that led to sweeping legal reforms. The court questioned whether systemic law enforcement mechanisms have made meaningful progress nearly 14 years on.

Source: www.dw.com