A curfew has been imposed at Lovely Professional University (LPU) following disturbances sparked by rumors of an assault on a female student. A third-year Computer Science student has called for a CBI investigation under court supervision.
This student, Ravi Raj from Bhagalpur, Bihar, aged 23, filed the petition. He resides in Hostel No. 6. The petition was submitted to a bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwini Kumar Mishra and Judge Rohit Kapoor for an urgent hearing. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30th. The student demanded an independent investigation into both the allegations of inciting riots and the subsequent acts of arson, vandalism, and large-scale looting.
On Tuesday, the university announced the formation of a three-member disciplinary committee to investigate participation in the violence. The university stated that approximately 30-40 students are under investigation, and staff are reviewing CCTV footage and other materials. An unusual calm prevails on campus despite a large presence of police forces. Previously, 2000 people were gathered at the academic block, hostels, and gates. Burning cars, broken windows, shop vandalism, and infrastructure damage attest to the violence that occurred.
Following the incident, regular classes were suspended for 10 days, starting from September 28th. Furthermore, mid-term exams scheduled for around October 1st have been postponed indefinitely. Students were advised to return home after consulting with parents or guardians. Those remaining on campus were instructed to stay in hostels or residences and avoid any activity related to the unrest.
Reports indicate that more than half of the approximately 35,000–40,000 LPU students have already gone home. Crowds were observed at regional railway stations as parents arrived to pick up their children.
Shops inside UniMall on the LPU premises continue to assess losses. Suprit Singh, whose laptop store opened in the mall over ten years ago, noted that the scale of the riots and looting was excessive. He stated: 'Even 500 security guards could not stop it.'
He specified that seven to ten stores selling IT equipment, electronics, mobile phones, and laptops were intentionally targeted. The total damage to these stores alone exceeded 10 crore rupees. Traders had prepared stock for the new academic semester and the upcoming festive season, but people came empty-handed and left with laptops and phones, discarding empty hard cases.
University management attributed the incident to a surge of anger fueled by rumors. The primary allegation of sexual harassment, which triggered the demonstration, has not yet been confirmed by the police or the university. The SIT is currently investigating this matter. According to available information, there have been no numerous reports of arrests related to the initial complaint. Identification of individuals responsible for the violence and material damage is underway.
The political reaction to the incident was also divided. BJP representatives claimed the riots were politically instigated and demanded an investigation into the role of external parties. In turn, AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu rejected conspiracy claims, stating that the Punjab police managed the situation without excessive use of force. Ashok Mittal, Chancellor and Rajya Sabha MP, did not comment on the campus violence in response to media inquiries.
LPU has rapidly evolved from its modest beginnings. Founded in 2001 as a small business and IT school with about 280 students, it was officially established as Lovely Professional University in 2005. Today, it hosts approximately 35,676 students, 86.5% of whom come from outside Punjab. The institution operates within the Lovely Group, which includes businesses such as car dealership, real estate, confectionery, and infrastructure. This group employs about 5500 people, and its annual revenue exceeds 1000 crore rupees. Ashok Mittal serves as its Chancellor, and his wife Rashmi Mittal is the Co-Chancellor.