LPU protest highlights: Normalcy resumes at LPU campus, Punjab DGP says maximum restraint used against students

LPU protest LIVE: CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas on Monday wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, seeking his urgent intervention to ensure the safety and security of students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) and prevent "arbitrary detentions" and "unlawful targeting".

Brittas said the situation had caused "deep anxiety" among students and their families across the country, particularly the large number of students from Kerala studying at the university, many of them young women residing in hostels.

"Whatever may be the veracity of the allegations and counter-allegations presently circulating, the first and foremost responsibility of the state authorities and the university administration is to ensure the absolute safety and security of every student," he said in his letter to Mann. (PTI)

LPU protest LIVE: With opposition parties lashing out at the Punjab government over law and order in the wake of the violent protests at the Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, the AAP on Monday said the police handled the situation with restraint and professionalism.

AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Singh Pannu said the situation at the Lovely Professional University (LPU) was "highly sensitive" as it involved students from Punjab, other states and abroad.

Safety of every student studying in Punjab is the government's priority, and a special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the LPU incident, Pannu said. (PTI)

LPU protest LIVE: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Monday that the Aam Aadmi Party government was behind the protests in LPU.

“If the police thoroughly investigate the LPU protests, they will find that the AAP government in Punjab is behind them,” he said.

LPU protest LIVE: Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav visited Lovely Professional University (LPU) on Monday, a day after violence erupted on the campus, and said police had exercised maximum restraint during the protests. He warned that those found involved in vandalism would face strict action.

Yadav said a detailed scientific and technical probe was underway, with investigators examining video footage, CCTV recordings and other evidence to identify those responsible for the violence.

The DGP visited the LPU campus in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed him to take stock of the situation.

LPU protest LIVE: With calm returning to Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab's Phagwara a day after violent protests, university authorities on Monday met police officials, the civil administration and student representatives to discuss the unrest. During the meeting, the university reiterated its claim that outsiders were responsible for the violence, reported PTI.

The authorities said the campus remained safe and that normal activities had resumed.

LPU protest LIVE: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging misuse of government machinery, police and public properties, and said that the state needs development, peace, communal harmony, security and employment.

Addressing the alleged misuse of government resources, Badal said a proper investigation should be conducted by the Punjab government. He alleged that the owner of a property where AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had stayed had later left the party and questioned the circumstances surrounding the development. (ANI)

LPU protest LIVE: A day after Lovely Professional University (LPU) here released a video of three female students allegedly dismissing claims of a student's rape on the campus, the trio on Monday said the institution had not taken their consent before posting the video and that they were facing abuse and harassment.

LPU students went on a rampage on the campus on Sunday over claims that a female student had been raped by a plumber on the university premises three days ago.

In a bid to pacify the students, the private university released a video featuring the three young women, who allegedly said that no rape had taken place in the hostel. However, on Monday, they posted a video on social media, claiming that the clip put out by the university was cropped.

"Our video has been trimmed and posted on Instagram. We had no idea about this, and no consent was taken from us. Now, unnecessarily, we are being abused," one of the students said in a brief video clip circulating on social media.

"We have no role, please leave us alone," another student said in the clip. (PTI)

LPU protest LIVE: Rashmi Mittal, Pro Chancellor of the Lovely Professional University, called the reports of the alleged rape incident inside the campus “rumours”.

“I was just thinking that how is it possible that my students did not bring this issue, if they were feeling so, why did not they bring it up to us and they just believed in this rumour which was spreading, I mean I don't know, I felt so hurt actually,” she said in a detailed statement.

LPU protest LIVE: A day after violent protests erupted at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Kapurthala district, the campus remained peaceful, with several students leaving for home after classes were suspended for 10 days, reported PTI

The Punjab DGP, meanwhile, warned that strict action would be taken against those involved in vandalism.

Traffic on National Highway-44 was also restored after protesting LPU students blocked the key road for more than 15 hours, police said.

LPU protest LIVE: Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday urged the Centre and the Kerala government to intervene to ensure the safety and travel arrangements of students from the state studying at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab following violence on the campus.

In a Facebook post, Vijayan said the incident at the university should be treated seriously. He alleged that the university’s founder and chancellor, BJP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, and the management had used the police and “Sangh Parivar goondas” to suppress the students’ protest over the alleged sexual assault.

Vijayan called for a strong protest against the alleged action and demanded a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure justice for the students.

LPU protest LIVE: The Punjab State Women Commission has sought a detailed report from the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, regarding an alleged incident involving a female student at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara.

In a communication dated September 28, the Commission said media reports and allegations raised by students had brought the matter to its notice. It noted that the incident had raised concerns regarding the safety and security of women students on the university campus.

The Commission directed the authorities to submit information regarding the FIR registered in connection with the incident and the investigation being conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). It also sought details of the security arrangements made for women students, including CCTV surveillance, deployment of security personnel and monitoring of entry and exit points.

-ANI

LPU protest LIVE: A day after Lovely Professional University (LPU) here released a video of three female students allegedly dismissing claims of a student's rape on the campus, the trio on Monday said the institution had not taken their consent before posting the video and that they were facing abuse and harassment.

LPU students went on a rampage on the campus on Sunday over claims that a female student had been raped by a plumber on the university premises three days ago.

In a bid to pacify the students, the private university released a video featuring the three young women, who allegedly said that no rape had taken place in the hostel. However, on Monday, they posted a video on social media, claiming that the clip put out by the university was cropped.

"Our video has been trimmed and posted on Instagram. We had no idea about this, and no consent was taken from us. Now, unnecessarily, we are being abused," one of the students said in a brief video clip circulating on social media.

"We have no role, please leave us alone," another student said in the clip.

-PTI

LPU protest LIVE: The Indian Youth Congress said that they set up a SOS IYC Emergency LPU Helpline for help and that students have who have been “living in fear” are reaching out to them ever since “violence spread under the government's patronage” at LPU.

“Following which, comrades from the Punjab Youth Congress have been continuously contacting them and safely sending them on their way back to their homes. Punjab Youth Congress is here for stay, travel, medical and other assistance,” IYC added.

LPU protest LIVE: On the LPU student protest, Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Arvind Kejriwal himself is behind the incidents taking place at Lovely Professional University and is also the mastermind who sent history-sheeters and criminals there to give these incidents a political colour. They planned and carried out an attack inside the university, and the Punjab Police supported them. A false allegation of rape was made, and so far, the Punjab Police has not been able to present the facts regarding these matters."

LPU protest LIVE: On students holding a protest at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab Congress President and MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, "There is no arrangement here. The police are scared. I have never seen such a bad situation in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann is a failed Chief Minister. Murders are taking place every day, and even ministers are receiving threats..."

On a video showing Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma allegedly slapping a local youth during a road inspection row in Tilak Nagar, he says, "No one has the right to harm members of the public. Everyone should respect human rights..."

LPU protest LIVE: Shiromani Akali Dal general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday condemned a video circulating on social media, which he said was reportedly from the Lovely Professional University (LPU) campus.

Majithia urged the Punjab Police to immediately verify the authenticity of the video and establish whether it was indeed recorded on the LPU campus. He said that if the video is found to be genuine, the matter should be thoroughly investigated and strict legal action taken against those responsible.

Condemning the alleged incident, Majithia said the perpetrator should face the “strictest action”. He also criticised Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann over the incident.

The purported video shows a man running behind a girl and harassing her.

HT could not verify the authenticity of the video

LPU protest LIVE: Congress MP Pawan Khera on Monday alleged that Aam Aadmi Party and Bhartiya Janata Party are working in sync to avoid accountability.

In a post on X, he said that an FIR should have been filed in the alleged rape case at Lovely Professional University, which is founder and headed by an AAP-turned-BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Ashok Kumar Mittal. He accused the AAP government in the state of not filing an FIR.

“An alleged rape is reported at Lovely Professional University, founded and headed by an AAP-turned-BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Ashok Kumar Mittal. An FIR should have been the obvious and immediate response. But the AAP government doesn't file one,” Khera’s post read.

He then said that the FIR was only filed later after student protests made it unavoidable, accusing the two parties of “tag-team politics”

“Students protest. The FIR is finally filed only when the protests make it unavoidable.”

“Tag-team politics at its finest: one party owns the university, the other runs the government - and between the two, accountability somehow becomes nobody's responsibility. Undoubtedly, AAP is the B-team of the BJP.”

LPU protest LIVE: A day after protesting students at LPU allegedly went on a rampage over the claims of a rape incident on the campus, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Monday visited the university and asserted that vandals would face action even though police have used restraint so far.

Referring to the recent CJP-led students' agitation at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, Yadav acknowledged the resentment among students and said the approach by police to the current incident has been constructive, with minimum force used. 'However, no one will be allowed to take law into their own hands,' he warned.

-PTI

LPU protest LIVE: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said he spoke with Lovely Professional University founder Ashok Mittal regarding the safety of students from Bihar and was assured of full cooperation and necessary steps to safeguard their interests.

“I spoke with the founder of Lovely Professional University and the esteemed Member of Parliament, Shri Ashok Mittal Ji. Regarding the safety and interests of students from Bihar, he has assured full cooperation and the taking of necessary steps,” Choudhary said in a post on X.

LPU protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday said that students should not be blamed for the chaos erupted during protests at Punjab’s Lovely Professional University, claiming that it was done by outsiders.

Dipke shared a screenshot of his conversation with a student and raised questions on how outsiders were able to enter the university. He added that many female students have spoken about feeling unsafe.

“Students’ safety and security cannot be compromised. Punjab Police must investigate and answer how this happened,” he said in a post.

LPU protest LIVE: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday alleged a “larger conspiracy” behind the protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU), claiming that outsiders carrying weapons and walkie-talkies were found inside the campus amid protests that turned violent.

In a post on X, Badal said that students had apprehended the alleged outsiders and questioned the police over the action taken following their arrest.

“It is shocking that goons carrying walkie-talkies and weapons were found inside LPU - and it was the brave students who nabbed them and got them arrested. Those apprehended are outsiders, which establishes that this is a larger conspiracy. I want to ask, where have police filed the FIR after the arrest?” Badal said.

LPU protest LIVE: Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Monday pointed to the possible role of outsiders.

"Walkie-talkies have been found here. We have also found the role of outsiders because walkie-talkies have been found. Secondly, there is viral CCTV footage of the inside premises which shows that there were men who came close to the women's hostel, which is being questioned, because of which the violence probably occurred," he said, news agency ANI reported.

LPU protest LIVE: Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday alleged that Lovely Professional University (LPU) students were being used as “pawns” for political revenge, and questioned the alleged involvement of AAP leaders Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the developments.

In a post on X, Majithia alleged that after Ashok Mittal joined the BJP, outsiders were brought from Delhi to provoke the agitation at LPU.

“After Ashok Mittal joined BJP, outsiders were brought in to turn the protest violent. Mittal had reportedly got Kejriwal’s Delhi bungalow vacated and stopped paying fees for Sisodia’s children, hence the revenge has to be taken,” he wrote.

LPU protest LIVE: Amid protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab's Phagwara, BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Monday alleged an “AAP conspiracy” to disrupt Union Home Minister Amit Shah's upcoming rally in Jalandhar and claimed that police allowed violence to escalate at the university.

In a post on X, he said, “On September 30, a massive rally of the country's Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji is set to take place in Jalandhar, with lakhs of people expected to attend. Frightened by the trust Punjabis are placing in the BJP, the 'AAP' government is making efforts to spoil the atmosphere in Jalandhar to create obstacles for the rally.”