‘I Don’t Feel Safe’: LPU Students Leave Campus After Violent Unrest in Phagwara

Students leave Lovely Professional University in Phagwara after classes were suspended following violent campus protests. Photo credit: Shalintripathi/ Wikimedia commons.

 Phagwara, Punjab: Several students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara have started leaving the campus for their homes after violent protests erupted over allegations involving a female student.

The situation at the university remained tense after protests on Sunday escalated into clashes, property damage and disruption on National Highway-44. Police said the situation has been peaceful since Sunday night, while a large security deployment has been maintained around the university.

The unrest began after claims circulated about an alleged sexual assault involving a female student. The university has denied the allegations and described the claims as false and fabricated. Police, meanwhile, have registered a case against an unknown person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations.

The protests later turned violent, with police reporting stone-pelting and damage to vehicles and other property. Several police personnel were reportedly injured during the clashes. Heavy police forces were subsequently deployed at the university, with reports putting the deployment at more than 2,000 personnel.

Following the unrest, LPU announced that regular classes would remain suspended for 10 days from September 28, 2026. The university also postponed its mid-term examinations until further notice. Students were allowed to travel to their hometowns after consulting their parents or guardians.

Students who choose to remain on campus have been advised to stay inside their hostels or places of residence, avoid unnecessary movement and stay away from any further unrest.

Some students said they were leaving because of concerns about their safety following the violence. One student told The Tribune that the situation had changed dramatically after violence broke out and said many students were choosing to return home because “safety is an issue.”

Police officials said there were no ongoing protests on Monday and that security arrangements had been strengthened at all university gates. Authorities also said traffic on NH-44, which had been blocked for more than 15 hours during the protests, was restored.

The investigation into the allegations remains ongoing. At this stage, the claims surrounding the alleged sexual assault should be treated as allegations, as the university has disputed the claims and the police investigation is still underway.