A protest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab’s Phagwara escalated into violence after an unverified social media claim alleged that a female student had been raped and later died by suicide.

The allegation had not been confirmed by police when the protest began. LPU rejected the claim and described it as false and fabricated. The unrest later involved vandalism, fires and a blockade of National Highway-44 outside the university.

By Monday, September 28, security had been tightened around the campus, classes had been suspended for 10 days and students were leaving the university as parents arrived to take them home.

How the LPU protest began

The protest reportedly began near Girls’ Hostel-3 around 1 am on Sunday.

According to a student interviewed by media, students had received a message on Reddit claiming that a girl had been raped and subsequently died by suicide. The student said more people joined the protest after messages circulated among students.

However, police had not received or confirmed a rape complaint when the protest started. The allegation therefore remained unverified.

As more students gathered, the situation deteriorated.

Masks and iron rods seen during the unrest

Videos from the campus showed large numbers of people, with several individuals wearing masks.

Students interviewed after the violence said they were unable to establish whether everyone involved was a student or whether some people had entered the campus from outside.

One student also alleged that some people involved in the violence were carrying iron rods. These are accounts provided by students and should not be treated as an independently established identification of those responsible.

Police have been examining CCTV footage and investigating whether people from outside the university were involved.

Campus property damaged, fires reported

The unrest resulted in damage to university property, including smashed window panes and other vandalism. Some objects were also set on fire.

The violence extended beyond the campus, with protesters blocking National Highway-44, a major route connecting Jalandhar and Phagwara. The blockade continued for more than 15 hours before traffic was restored on Monday.

Other reporting also said vehicles and parts of buildings were damaged during the unrest.

Police registered FIR, special team formed

Punjab authorities moved to investigate the violence after the situation escalated.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed police authorities to take strict action against those responsible for the vandalism and arson. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav also visited the campus and reviewed the situation.

Police registered an FIR and formed a high-level Special Investigation Team to investigate the incident.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said the police had initially exercised restraint because students were involved in the protest. He said the authorities attempted to address students’ grievances through discussions.

What LPU said about the rape allegation

Lovely Professional University has denied that a female student was raped on the campus.

LPU Registrar Monica Gulati described the allegations as false, baseless and fabricated. The university also released a video featuring three female students from room 504 of a hostel, in which they said that no such incident had taken place in their room.

The video subsequently became controversial when the same students appeared in another video and alleged that they had been told what to say and that the video had been used without their consent.

These claims surrounding the video were circulating allegations and had not themselves been independently established in the report.

LPU classes suspended for 10 days

Following the violence, the university suspended classes for 10 days from September 28.

The university also postponed mid-term examinations until further notice, according to reporting on the situation.

Security was increased on the campus as students began leaving with their belongings and parents arrived to take them home.

What is known about the alleged rape-suicide claim?

At the time of the protests, police had not confirmed a rape complaint at LPU. The allegation had circulated through social media and among students but remained unverified.

LPU denied that the alleged incident had occurred. Police are investigating the violence and the circumstances surrounding the claims.

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to decide the dispute over the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) name and its ‘Flowers & Grass’ election symbol within a defined timeline.

The order came while the court was hearing a plea filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commission’s interim decision to freeze the use of the party’s original name and reserved symbol amid competing claims between rival factions.

The court has given the parties four weeks to complete their pleadings, including responses, affidavits and counter-affidavits. The ECI will then have three months to adjudicate the dispute. This effectively establishes a four-month timeline for completion of the process.

What did the Supreme Court direct?

The Supreme Court directed the contesting sides to place their responses and other documents on record within four weeks.

After the pleadings are completed, the Election Commission has been asked to take three months to decide the dispute concerning the party’s name and election symbol. The matter is being considered under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

The Supreme Court’s directions therefore provide a structured timeline for the ECI’s adjudication of the competing claims.

Why is the TMC name and symbol dispute before the Supreme Court?

The case follows an interim decision by the Election Commission in September to prevent the rival factions from using the All India Trinamool Congress name and the reserved ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol while the competing claims are examined.

The Commission had said the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

Mamata Banerjee subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the ECI’s interim arrangement. The Supreme Court is examining the challenge while the substantive dispute remains before the poll panel.

What names and symbols are being used temporarily?

Following the Election Commission’s interim decision, the two rival factions were allotted separate identities for the upcoming by-elections.

The faction led by Mamata Banerjee was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the Football Player symbol. The rival faction was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the Envelope symbol.

These are interim arrangements and do not amount to a final determination of which faction is entitled to the original AITC name and ‘Flowers & Grass’ symbol.

What happens next in the TMC symbol dispute?

The immediate next step is for the rival sides to complete their pleadings within four weeks.

Once that stage is completed, the ECI has three months to decide the dispute. The Supreme Court has thus effectively provided a four-month framework for the proceedings to reach a decision.

Rainfall activity across much of north India is expected to ease on Tuesday, September 29, while parts of southern India and the Northeast are likely to continue experiencing active weather.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest forecast on Monday evening, predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of southern India, along with continued showers in the Northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

North India to see improving weather

Uttarakhand is expected to see a significant improvement in weather conditions on Tuesday. The IMD has not issued a heavy rain warning for the state.

Light to moderate rain is, however, likely at a few places in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts.

Himachal Pradesh may receive isolated rainfall, while Delhi, Haryana and Punjab are expected to remain largely dry.

The southwest monsoon’s withdrawal has reached Chandigarh, with the IMD expecting dry conditions across Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab from September 29.

Uttar Pradesh is also likely to experience a gradual reduction in rainfall activity. The IMD has issued no warning for either eastern or western Uttar Pradesh for Tuesday, following several days of heavy rain that caused flooding and waterlogging in several districts.

Heavy rain forecast in parts of South India

South Interior Karnataka is likely to be the main focus in southern India on September 29, with the IMD forecasting very heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning.

Heavy rainfall activity in the region may continue through October 1.

Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are also expected to receive heavy rainfall from September 29, with the activity likely to continue through October 1.

Parts of Maharashtra could also experience storm activity. Madhya Maharashtra may see thunderstorms and lightning, while Konkan and Goa could also experience similar conditions.

Northeast likely to receive heavy rain

In the Northeast, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura are expected to receive heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on September 29.

The IMD has forecast further heavy rainfall activity across the region on September 30.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also likely to experience thunderstorms and lightning on Tuesday.

The IMD is monitoring a depression over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining Myanmar coast. According to the forecast, the system is expected to move towards the northeast Bay of Bengal and the Bangladesh coast.