Lovely Professional University is a private university established in 2005 and located along the Grand Trunk Road in Phagwara, Punjab. Spread across more than 600 acres, the university has over 25,000 students from across India and more than 33 countries.
LPU offers more than 150 diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across disciplines. The university holds NAAC A++ accreditation and is known for its industry links, modern campus infrastructure and placement opportunities. Its academic offerings span fields including engineering, management, law, computer applications, sciences, arts, design and other professional disciplines.
In an interview with India Today’s Marya Shakil, Lovely Professional University dean Sorabh Lakhanpal discusses the violence, arson and vandalism on campus and the protest that blocked National Highway 44.
Lovely Professional University in Punjab witnessed widespread unrest and arson following student protests over alleged rape rumours, which the university authorities dismissed as fake news. Protests escalated as over 2,000 students blocked the national highway for more than 18 hours. CCTV footage from UniMall within the university premises captured mobs looting shops, stealing laptops, mobile phones, and damaging ATMs. Shop owners claimed damages amounting to crores of rupees. While the university alleged that outsiders with vested interests breached campus gates to vitiate the atmosphere, shopkeepers stated that regular students were among those involved in the vandalism. Punjab Police registered a First Information Report and constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the violence. Simultaneously, the university administration formed a three-member disciplinary action committee to identify 30 to 40 students suspected of leading the arson and loot.
Nationwide protests by opposition parties against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls lead the day's political developments, with the BJP defending the exercise. Former judges Justice Sanjiv Banerjee and Justice Gupta examine the constitutional validity of the electoral revision and the burden of proof placed on voters. The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of five rape cases reported in Delhi over five weeks and directed authorities to conduct safety audits of public spaces. The court also addressed concerns over street lighting and police patrolling. Reports from Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Bengaluru highlight women's concerns over safety. In Punjab, Lovely Professional University suspended classes and examinations following student protests over sexual assault allegations. In corporate news, Noel Tata has proposed merging operating entities with Tata Sons to address non-banking financial company regulations. In sports, Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal at the Asian Games.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to decide the Trinamool Congress name and symbol dispute between the factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Ritabrata Banerjee within three months. Meanwhile, Congress and opposition parties are holding protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the revision of electoral rolls. In Delhi, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has come under political scrutiny following an altercation during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar, with AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Jarnail Singh criticising the incident. In Punjab, student unrest and police action at Lovely Professional University following sexual assault allegations have prompted a Special Investigation Team probe. The coverage also tracks Supreme Court observations on women's safety, Delhi's winter anti-pollution measures and Congress's reaction to the DUSU election results.
A violent clash erupted at Lovely Professional University (LPU), leading to arson, widespread damage to police vehicles, and the suspension of classes for ten days. Speaking on the situation, the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) stated that the ground situation is under control, explaining that a clash between students and police personnel occurred following provocation near the university gate. The officer dismissed allegations that the police prolonged the unrest, maintaining that senior officials continuously engaged in negotiations while exercising maximum restraint. He further noted that authorities are examining video footage to identify the culprits and ascertain the presence of outside elements among the protesting crowd. Meanwhile, mid-term examinations have been disrupted, and students were seen packing their luggage and leaving the campus amid heavy police presence, including a flag march conducted to restore public order.
A special report from Lovely Professional University reveals extensive unrest following student agitation, violence, and arson that resulted in damaged police vehicles. ADG Law and Order stated that the situation remains under control after clashes occurred between police forces and students near the main gate. Responding to allegations of police lathi charges and delays in de-escalating tension, the officer stated that police observed restraint and officers spent forty-eight hours negotiating alongside senior district officials. Authorities are currently reviewing video recordings to identify instigators and ascertain the presence of outside elements among the protesting crowds. Meanwhile, the university has suspended academic classes for ten days, prompting students to vacate the campus hostels. Several students voiced concerns over disrupted mid-term examinations and claimed external persons escalated the destruction.
Protests over an alleged rape claim at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara escalated into violence on the second day, with students blocking the Phagwara-Jalandhar stretch of National Highway 44. Demonstrators pelted stones and vandalised vehicles, setting a Punjab police vehicle on fire and leaving several personnel injured. Police registered an FIR and formed a special investigation team to examine CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and phone records, stating that no corroborating evidence has been found so far. The university administration denied the incident occurred, while authorities called in additional forces to assess and control the situation.
Tension escalated at Lovely Professional University in Punjab as student protests over rape rumours turned violent, leading to intense clashes with the police. Protesters pelted stones, shattered vehicle window panes, and set a Punjab Police vehicle ablaze, leaving several police personnel injured, including one with a head injury. In response, police personnel resorted to a mild lathi charge before retreating to seek reinforcements from Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Protesters had earlier blocked the national highway for hours and ransacked shops on campus while demanding the registration of an FIR, the constitution of a Special Investigation Team, and meetings with university authorities. While university administration refuted the allegations of rape and labelled them as rumours, police registered an FIR and formed an SIT to conduct an investigation. Senior police officers on the ground confirmed efforts to stabilise the area and identify individuals involved in arson and vandalism.
Tension escalated at Lovely Professional University in Punjab following unrest triggered by rumours of rape. Protesting students clashed with law enforcement personnel on campus, resulting in stone pelting, arson, and damage to several vehicles, including media and police vehicles. Heavy projectiles were thrown at officers in riot gear, prompting police to deploy mild lathi charge to push back crowds. Protesters torched a Punjab Police vehicle as smoke billowed across the campus. The university administration denied the allegations of rape, stating that no such incident occurred, while an FIR has been registered and a Special Investigation Team constituted. Senior police officers, including Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora, arrived on the ground to take stock of the situation as additional forces were mobilised across university hostels to restore order.
Lovely Professional University students went on a rampage in Phagwara, causing extensive violence, arson, and vandalism across campus facilities, including the on-campus mall. The student unrest was sparked by serious allegations concerning suicide and rape, which university authorities rejected as fake news and rumours. Angered by the administration's stance, students blocked the national highway and demanded strict action and justice. Police personnel from neighbouring districts such as Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar were deployed alongside senior officers, including the SSP, to bring the situation under control as cleanup operations commenced.
A massive student protest erupted into a rampage at Lovely Professional University over an alleged rape case on campus. Outside girls' hostel number three, roommates from room 504 described being woken up by police, who recorded their names and contact details after inquiring if they had noticed anything unusual. The students stated that the incident did not take place in their room and expressed frustration that officers did not check other rooms before retreating to the warden's room. Demanding answers, the students criticised the investigation, noting that daytime classes keep them away while workers are present, and arguing that any night commotion would have alerted residents.
In an exclusive interview with India Today's Kamaljeet Sandhu in Chandigarh, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Lovely Professional University (LPU) Chancellor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal addressed critical political and social issues facing Punjab. Discussing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on combating the drug menace, Mittal announced that the BJP is planning multiple rallies across Punjab leading up to a mega rally attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing relief efforts for Nepalese students at LPU following a major tragedy in Nepal, Mittal highlighted the university's matching fund initiative and supply assistance. He also urged the Punjab government to resolve ongoing grievances with state employees on strike. Clarifying political speculations, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal firmly dismissed reports of an alliance between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal, confirming that the party plans to contest all 117 assembly seats independently.
Massive protests erupted in Punjab's Jalandhar after a student died by suicide inside a college campus. The initial probe has revealed that the student cited personal reasons for taking the drastic step in the suicide note left behind. Further investigations in the case are underway.
