Punjab campus violence triggers political slugfest; university blames outsiders

A day after intense protests, and violent clashes between students and police at Lovely Professional University’s Phagwara campus over the alleged rape of a female student, Opposition parties in Punjab have lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the State’s "deteriorating” law and order situation and demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

On Sunday, protesters blocked NH-44 near Phagwara, vandalised university property, blocked traffic and clashed with the police. The students have alleged that a female hosteller had been raped by a plumber last week and claimed that no action had been taken in the matter so far. LPU, a private institute, has denied the allegations. The alleged victim has yet to be identified. The police registered an FIR containing rape charges against unknown persons and a special investigation team has been constituted to probe the matter.