States » NorthPosted at: Sep 28 2026 6:56PM


LPU Pro-Chancellor breaks silence after campus violence, asks why students did not approach management

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Sep 28 (UNI) Lovely Professional University Pro-Chancellor Rashmi Mittal has broken her silence following violence at the university's Phagwara campus, questioning why students did not approach the management with their concerns before protests escalated and saying social media rumours and the entry of outsiders aggravated the situation.
Mittal issued a video message on Monday after protests over an alleged sexual assault spiralled into violence, vandalism and clashes between protesters and police. Vehicles were damaged and set ablaze during the unrest, while a prolonged blockade on the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway disrupted traffic before it was cleared.
Police have registered a case against an unidentified person over the sexual assault allegation and constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate it. The allegation has not been established and remains under investigation. LPU has disputed claims circulated on social media about the alleged incident.
Mittal said the university management and students had traditionally shared a relationship of trust and described the developments on the campus as deeply unfortunate.
“If they were feeling like this, why did they not come to us?” Mittal said, adding that students had several channels through which they could raise concerns with the university administration.
She said she was hurt that students had relied on information circulating online rather than first approaching the management to verify it.
“We should not blindly follow social media,” Mittal said. “We could have gone together and checked. This should not have happened.”
Mittal alleged that outsiders subsequently entered the campus and that some people were involved in looting shops during the unrest. She said those responsible for theft and vandalism should face action.
Police are separately investigating whether outsiders played a role in the violence. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, who visited LPU on Monday, said investigators were examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify those involved in arson and vandalism.
Yadav said police had attempted to resolve the situation through dialogue and had exercised restraint while dealing with the students.
“We used minimum force and tried to resolve the matter through dialogue with the students,” Yadav said, adding that anyone found responsible for violence would face action.
Police have also been examining the circumstances surrounding walkie-talkies found during the unrest and footage showing unidentified people near the women's hostel. Authorities have not concluded that these developments establish an organised conspiracy.
Mittal said the violence could have consequences beyond the immediate disruption to academic activity, including scheduled campus placements.
She said companies had been due to visit the university for recruitment, and some placement activity could now have to be postponed.
“This should not have happened,” she said, appealing to students to maintain calm and cooperate with the administration and investigating authorities.
The university has suspended regular academic activities for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations until further notice. Students wishing to return home have been allowed to leave after consulting their parents or guardians, while those staying on campus have been advised to remain in their hostels and avoid gatherings linked to the unrest.
A heavy police deployment remained in place around the campus on Monday as students began leaving for their homes.
The Punjab State Commission for Women has also taken suo motu cognisance of the developments and sought a detailed report from the Kapurthala deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police.
The Commission has sought information about the FIR, the investigation, and security arrangements for women students, including safeguards at girls' hostels. It has asked the authorities to submit an action-taken report by September 30.
The police investigation is now proceeding on separate tracks, including the original sexual assault allegation and the subsequent violence, vandalism, and possible involvement of outsiders.
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