Phagwara, Punjab | September 29, 2026: A fresh legal development has emerged after violent protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara on September 27. An LPU student has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a court-monitored probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the violence, arson, vandalism and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The plea is expected to be heard by the High Court on Wednesday.
The unrest began after an unverified social-media claim alleging that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. Students initially gathered near a girls’ hostel, but the protest later escalated into clashes, vandalism, arson and a blockade of NH-44. Police and university property were damaged, while reports also emerged of shops in the campus commercial area being vandalised and looted.
Police have registered a rape case against unidentified persons, but investigations have so far not established the identity of an alleged victim or confirmed that the reported assault took place. LPU Dean Dr Sorabh Lakhanpal told NDTV that university, civil administration and police inquiries had found no evidence supporting the sexual-assault allegation.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Phagwara Superintendent of Police is investigating the violence. Investigators are examining CCTV footage, videos and other evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify those responsible. Police are also examining claims concerning the possible involvement of people from outside the university.
Following the violence, LPU suspended classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations. Heavy police deployment remains in the area, while many students have returned to their homes. NH-44, which had been blocked during the agitation, has since reopened.
The latest developments underline the need to distinguish between the unverified sexual-assault allegation and the subsequent violence. Both remain subject to investigation, and claims about who may have organised or escalated the unrest should not be treated as established facts until investigators reach conclusions. The PIL seeking a CBI probe adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of the incident.
