Private university students hold protest, block highway over unverified rape report
Students at a private university in Punjab engaged in violent protests following unverified social media rumors of a rape. Police confirmed no such crime occurred and are currently managing the situation.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the dangerous impact of misinformation on social media and its potential to trigger large-scale civil unrest.
Students of a private university in Phagwara held a massive protest and went on a rampage on the campus early on Sunday (September 27, 2026) following unverified reports on social media about the alleged rape of a female student.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kapurthula, Gaurav Toora said police have no information of any such crime.
Videos circulating on social media showed students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) damaging window panes, flower pots and even putting some objects on fire. The students also blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway.
Mr. Toora said police received information that students gathered at the LPU campus at 1:45 a.m. and blocked a road.
Asked about the unverified claim of an alleged rape with a female student that was circulating on social media, Mr. Toora told reporters, "When we reached here, we came to know that there were rumours. Because of the rumours, students gathered here".
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