Rumours of ghost & ‘missing girls’ spark night-long protest at university in Punjab
A private university in Punjab experienced a night-long protest and clashes with police, triggered by false rumors of a haunted hostel, an alumnus's suicide, and two missing female students. Police and university officials confirmed all rumors were baseless, with no students missing or harmed.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the rapid spread and impact of misinformation, especially through social media, leading to significant unrest, property damage, and potential safety concerns, even when based on false premises.
PATIALA: Rumours of a haunted hostel and two missing female students triggered a massive protest by students at a private university in Rajpura through Friday night and into early Saturday. The unrest escalated into clashes with police, vandalism of two police vehicles and damage to campus property.Banur SHO inspector Gursewak Singh said the unrest began after a prank by some students sparked rumours about ghosts linked to an alumnus’s suicide in a hostel. Rumours later spread that two female students were missing. All three, however, were false, he said -- no student had died by suicide at the university nor were any students missing.University registrar Col Rakesh Sharma (retd) said things under control and academic activities were continuing as usual.Police and university officials said unverified posts and clips circulated on student WhatsApp and social media groups on Friday night.
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