The controversy at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab has intensified after three students featured in a university clarification video later alleged that they had been instructed what to say and that their statements were used without their consent.

The controversy followed protests at the university over unverified claims that a female student had been sexually assaulted and later died by suicide. Police have not confirmed that such a crime took place.

Students challenge university’s clarification video

LPU Registrar Dr Monika Gulati had released a video addressing the unrest and featured three students who live in Room 504 of Girls’ Hostel 3, which had been mentioned in claims circulating among students.

In the university’s video, the three students denied that any such incident had taken place in their room and asked students and police not to disturb them.

The registrar subsequently said the unrest was linked to false and fabricated rumours and described the developments as a conspiracy to defame the university.

However, a separate video later emerged in which the same students said they had been instructed by the LPU administration about what to say.

One of the students alleged that they were told to record the statements and that part of the video was edited before being posted on Instagram. The student also said their consent had not been taken.

Another student said they had no involvement in the alleged incident and asked people to leave them alone.

What triggered the LPU protests

The protests began after claims spread among students that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted on campus and had subsequently died by suicide.

One protesting student alleged that the woman had been assaulted by a construction worker and later sent home by the university authorities. The student further claimed that the woman’s roommate subsequently informed other students that she had died by suicide.

These claims have not been independently confirmed by police.

Deputy Inspector General of Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla said students had claimed that a girl in a hostel had been sexually assaulted around three days earlier and had since returned home. Police registered a case based on that statement, according to the report.

Earlier, Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora said police had no information about any such crime being reported to them.

Protests turn violent

The protests at LPU escalated, with students vandalising parts of the campus and setting some objects and sections of the building on fire.

Videos showed groups of students protesting and demanding justice. Some students also damaged window panes and flower pots, while a group blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway, resulting in significant traffic disruption.

Police said an assessment of the property damage was underway and that legal action would follow.

LPU separately urged students to ignore what it described as false and misleading rumours and asked them to remain inside their hostels or residences and avoid involvement in the unrest.

The developments have left the central allegation unresolved, with police investigation continuing and the university maintaining that the claims circulating on social media were rumours.

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise. 

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process. 

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt. 

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously. 

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting. 

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

• Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
• The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
• Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
• A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
• A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.