LPU row: Students allege video was cropped, university denies rape claim
Three students who appeared in a video released by the university say their statements were edited, while police launch an SIT probe into the alleged rape
A day after Lovely Professional University (LPU) released a video of three female students appearing to dismiss claims of a rape on the campus, the students on Monday (September 28) said the institution had posted a cropped version of their video without their consent and that they were now facing abuse and harassment.
“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 video circulated on social media. Another said, “We have no role, please leave us alone.”
What triggered the protest?
The students’ clarification came a day after protests erupted at the university’s Phagwara campus in Punjab’s Kapurthala district over allegations that a female student had been raped by an outsider on the premises.
The protest, which began near Girls’ Hostel-3 around 1 am on Sunday (September 27), escalated into violence, with students allegedly vandalising property and blocking the New Delhi-Amritsar Highway outside the university for more than 15 hours. Police vehicles were also allegedly pelted with stones, leaving several personnel injured.
Also read: LPU protest: Mid-term exams postponed, classes suspended; 3 students retract on Registrar video
The university had rejected the rape allegations as “false, baseless and fabricated”. Registrar Dr Monica Gulati said the claims were being spread by “anti-social elements” and people with vested interests to tarnish the institution’s reputation.
In the video released by LPU, the three students from room 504 said no such incident had taken place in their room and appealed to students and police not to repeatedly visit the hostel. The university used the statements to assert that the allegations were part of a conspiracy.
The students’ subsequent clarification, however, said the video released by the university had been edited.
Police form SIT, warn protesters
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav visited the university on Monday and said police had exercised restraint during the protests, with officers taking a conscious decision to use minimum force.
The DGP said an FIR had been registered over the alleged rape and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the matter. He said the investigation would be carried out thoroughly and that action would follow according to law.
At the same time, Yadav warned those involved in vandalism that they would face action. Police are examining CCTV footage to identify those who allegedly damaged property and attacked police personnel.
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“Police used a lot of restraint,” Yadav said, adding that efforts had been made to address students’ grievances through discussions with the university administration.
The police also urged students not to believe unverified rumours. A heavy security contingent remained deployed on the campus after the violence, while senior officers conducted a flag march.
Traffic on National Highway-44, which runs outside the university and connects Jalandhar and Phagwara, was restored in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.
LPU has suspended classes for 10 days from Monday and postponed midterm examinations until further notice. Students have also been allowed to return home during the period after consulting their parents or guardians.
State Women Commission takes cognisance
Meanwhile, Chitkara University in Patiala also witnessed protests after unverified claims circulated that two female students had allegedly died by suicide on the campus. Students reportedly damaged a police vehicle during the agitation.
The Punjab State Women Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and sought a detailed report, including the FIR, investigation status and details of security arrangements at the university.
The commission has sought copies of the FIRs, details of the SIT, the status of the investigations and a report on security arrangements at both campuses. It has specifically sought information on girls’ hostel security, CCTV surveillance, security personnel and entry-exit monitoring.
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The panel has asked for a report from the authorities by September 30.
Bihar CM speaks to LPU founder
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said he spoke to LPU founder and Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal amid concerns over the safety of students from Bihar studying at the university. Mittal, he said, assured him that necessary steps would be taken to ensure their safety.
The LPU protests have also triggered a political war of words. BJP leader and former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the AAP government in Punjab of sending miscreants to the university ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled rally in Jalandhar on September 30. No evidence supporting the allegation has been cited.
With the alleged rape now under an SIT probe, police are also examining the violence on campus, while the controversy over the university’s handling of the students’ video has added another layer to the unfolding dispute.
(With agency inputs)