LPU protest: Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks status report on violence

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a comprehensive status report from the Punjab government on the protests and violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara following the circulation of an unverified social media post alleging that a girl student had been sexually assaulted on campus.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by LPU BTech student Ravi Raj, who has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the violence.

The court directed that the status report be filed under the signatures of the Jalandhar Police Commissioner. The matter will be heard next on Oct 8.

Court seeks details on alleged assault and violence

The court has asked the authorities to clarify whether the alleged sexual assault mentioned in the social media post actually occurred. It has also sought details of the action taken over the post and against those allegedly involved in the subsequent violence.

The controversy began on Sep 26, when an unverified social media post alleged that a girl student had been raped at an LPU hostel and subsequently sent home by the university.

The claim was followed by protests on the campus and a blockade of the Jalandhar-Phagwara section of National Highway 44.

The protests later escalated into incidents of vandalism, arson and damage to university property. The petitioner has alleged that outsiders were involved in the violence. These allegations are part of the petition and have not been established by the court.

LPU denied assault allegation

LPU denied the sexual assault allegation and described the claim as baseless. Police registered a case against an unidentified person to investigate the allegation and formed a Special Investigation Team to examine the matter.

The High Court has not ordered a CBI investigation at this stage. The petitioner's plea seeks a CBI probe into the violence, while alternatively seeking an investigation by a Special Investigation Team comprising officers from outside Punjab.

The court's latest direction is limited to seeking a status report from the state and police before considering the matter further.