LPU Row: Students clash with police, vehicles set ablaze during violent protest
Babushahi Bureau
Phagwara (Punjab), September 27, 2026: The protest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara turned violent on Sunday as students clashed with police, with stone-pelting reported and vehicles set ablaze during the unrest.
The confrontation followed a protest by students demanding action over allegations of sexual assault involving a female student. An FIR has been registered at Satnampura police station based on the statement of a student, while police have constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the allegations.
According to reports, students had blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway while pressing their demands. Police later resorted to a lathi-charge after the standoff escalated. Students allegedly pelted stones at police personnel, and some students and police personnel were reported injured.
During the violence, vehicles were reportedly damaged and some were set on fire. Earlier in the day, videos from the campus showed damage to window panes and flower pots, while some objects on the premises were seen burning.
A heavy police force was deployed around the university to bring the situation under control. Traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway was also affected due to the blockade.
The allegations that triggered the protest remain under investigation. LPU authorities have described the claims circulating on social media as false and fabricated and urged students and parents to rely on official communication.