A political controversy has intensified following violent protests at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, with former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleging that the unrest involved political targeting of university founder Ashok Mittal. Channi also questioned the role of the police during the violence. The allegations have added a political dimension to the LPU violence, which erupted after unverified reports circulated on social media about a woman student allegedly being assaulted on the campus. Police investigations later found that several viral claims circulating online had no established factual basis. The Punjab government has announced a special investigation team to examine the incident and the circumstances that led to the violence. The ruling AAP has rejected allegations of political involvement and defended the police response.

Channi Raises Allegations Over LPU Violence

Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that outsiders were involved in the unrest and claimed that the violence was politically motivated. Channi linked his allegations to Ashok Mittal, the founder of LPU, saying that the university owner had joined the BJP and alleging that the AAP government subsequently targeted the institution. These claims are allegations made by Channi and have not been established by the investigation. The former chief minister also questioned the police response and raised concerns about how students were treated during the unrest.

What Happened At LPU Campus?

The LPU Phagwara violence followed protests that began after unverified reports spread online concerning an alleged sexual assault involving a student. The situation escalated over the weekend, with protesters damaging university property and incidents of arson reported on the campus. A section of the New Delhi-Amritsar highway outside the university was also blocked during the unrest. Police later said that viral claims circulating online had triggered unrest at LPU and another private university in Punjab. Investigators said they found no factual basis for several of the allegations that had spread through social media discussions.

Police Presence Increased On Campus

Following the violence, a large police presence was deployed at the university. Senior police officers from several districts were involved in managing the situation and restoring order on the campus. Internet services within a three-kilometre radius of the university were also suspended as authorities attempted to control the spread of rumours and unverified information. The unrest affected normal academic activity at LPU. University authorities suspended classes for 10 days, while many students left the campus and returned to their homes.

Opposition Questions Punjab Government

Channi was not the only opposition leader to raise questions about the handling of the incident. Former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa criticised the government's response and said authorities should have acted more quickly when students began protesting. Other opposition leaders, including BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, also made allegations against the AAP government over the unrest. Their claims included accusations of political involvement and questions about the police response. These statements reflect the opposition's position, while the state government has rejected allegations that it deliberately allowed or encouraged the violence.

AAP Defends Punjab Police Response

The AAP government has rejected the opposition's allegations and said the situation was handled by the Punjab Police with restraint and professionalism. AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Singh Pannu said the safety of students remained the government's priority. He also said the special investigation team should be allowed to complete its inquiry and establish the facts. According to the AAP's account, police did not use excessive force against protesting students and worked to control the situation after the unrest escalated. The party has also accused opposition leaders of politicising a sensitive incident involving students.

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SIT To Investigate The Incident

A special investigation team has been constituted to investigate the LPU protest and determine what led to the escalation of violence. The investigation is expected to examine the original claims that triggered the protests, the spread of information on social media, the involvement of people at the campus, property damage and the police response. The SIT's findings will be important in establishing which allegations are supported by evidence and what action should follow.

Social Media Rumours At The Centre Of Investigation

One of the major issues emerging from the incident is the role of unverified information circulating online. Punjab Police said fabricated accounts and rumours relating to sexual assault, suicides and missing students had circulated through online discussion platforms. According to the police investigation, these claims contributed to unrest at LPU and Chitkara University. The development has raised wider concerns about how quickly unverified information can spread during tense situations involving students and educational institutions. For the moment, authorities are investigating the source and spread of the claims, while the political dispute over the government's handling of the situation continues.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is now on the SIT investigation. The team will have to establish the sequence of events, identify those involved in vandalism and arson, examine the spread of the rumours and assess the actions taken by authorities during the protests. Meanwhile, the political debate over the LPU violence is expected to continue, with opposition parties demanding greater scrutiny and the AAP government maintaining that the police acted professionally. Until the investigation is completed, allegations made by political leaders about the causes or motives behind the unrest remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts.