Lovely Professional University in Punjab has postponed its examinations and suspended regular classes for 10 days after a student protest over an alleged sexual assault escalated into clashes, vandalism, arson and a prolonged blockade of National Highway 44. The university said regular classes would remain suspended from September 28, 2026, while the mid term examinations have been postponed until further notice. A revised examination schedule will be issued separately through the university’s UMS platform.

The decision follows two days of unrest at the Phagwara campus. Students began protesting after unverified allegations circulated that a female student had been sexually assaulted on university premises and later died by suicide. The university has denied those claims, while Punjab Police have registered a rape case against an unknown person and constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team to establish what happened.

The LPU campus violence intensified on Sunday as protesters damaged property, set vehicles and other objects on fire, threw objects at police and blocked the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway.

LPU Postpones Mid Term Exams as Classes Stop for 10 Days

The university announced the academic suspension on Sunday night as the unrest continued. In its notice, LPU said the decision had been taken to protect students’ safety and wellbeing.

The university confirmed that LPU postpones mid term exams until further notice and said students would receive a new timetable separately through UMS.

Students have been given the option of travelling home during the 10-day suspension after consulting their parents or guardians. hose who remain on campus have been advised to stay inside hostels or their places of residence and avoid unnecessary movement or participation in unrest. The university has not yet announced when the mid term examinations will be rescheduled.

What Triggered the LPU Student Protest?

The LPU student protest began after claims spread among students and on social media regarding an alleged sexual assault involving a female student. According to statements cited by police, protesting students alleged that an outsider or construction worker assaulted the student inside the university and that the matter was not properly reported. Students further alleged that the young woman later died by suicide after returning home.

These claims remain under investigation. The identity of the alleged victim and even key elements of the sequence of events had not been independently established in the latest reporting.

Lovely Professional University initially rejected the reports, describing them as false, baseless and fabricated rumours being spread by what it called anti-social elements. Registrar Monica Gulati urged students and parents to rely on official information rather than social-media posts. The university’s vice-chancellor, Jaspal Singh Sandhu, also said no complaint regarding such an assault had reached him as of Sunday morning.

Police Register Rape Case and Form SIT

Despite the university’s denial, police have opened a formal investigation. After students submitted a complaint, Punjab Police registered a rape case against an unidentified person and created a seven-member SIT to examine the allegations. DIG Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla said five representatives of the protesting students had also been included in the investigation process.

Police are expected to examine:

• CCTV footage
• Digital and technical evidence
• Statements from students
• Hostel records
• Claims regarding the alleged victim
• The actions of university staff following the alleged incident

The existence of an FIR does not establish that the alleged offence occurred or determine who may be responsible. Those questions remain part of the investigation. The Punjab State Women Commission has also sought a report from the Kapurthala administration concerning the allegations and the police response.

LPU Campus Violence Escalates After Talks Fail

What began as a demonstration later turned into serious LPU campus violence. According to police and media reports, protesters damaged university property, smashed windows and set objects and vehicles on fire. Students also moved onto NH-44 outside the campus and blocked the route connecting Jalandhar and Phagwara.

Police initially attempted to resolve the situation through discussions with protesters.

Tensions increased when students allegedly threw bottles and stones at personnel trying to clear the highway. Police then used what authorities described as a mild lathi charge. Three SUVs and six motorcycles were reportedly set ablaze during the unrest, while police vehicles were also damaged. Several police personnel were injured. The violence transformed the original dispute over the alleged assault into a wider law-and-order situation.

More Than 2,000 Police Personnel Deployed

Authorities deployed a large police contingent around Lovely Professional University as conditions deteriorated. ADGP M.F. Farooqui said more than 2,000 personnel were deployed to secure the campus and surrounding areas. Police later said law and order had been restored. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav visited LPU on September 28 and said authorities had attempted to use minimum force while controlling the demonstrations.

He also warned that those responsible for vandalism and arson would face action. Police are separately examining the violence itself, including whether people from outside the university became involved. This means the original sexual-assault allegation and the violence during the protest are being treated as distinct investigative issues.

Highway Reopens After 15-Hour Blockade

The LPU Punjab protests also caused major transport disruption. NH-44 remained blocked for more than 15 hours as protesters occupied the road outside the university.

Traffic was eventually restored by Monday morning after authorities regained control of the area. The highway is a major route through Punjab, and the blockade affected traffic between Jalandhar and Phagwara. Restoration of traffic was one of the clearest signs that immediate tensions around the campus had eased by September 28. Police nevertheless maintained a strong presence around the university.

Internet Services Suspended Around Campus

Another major development in the LPU Punjab protests came on Monday when authorities suspended internet services in and around the university. The restriction followed the rapid spread of allegations, videos and messages through social-media platforms during the unrest. Authorities have not suggested that suspension of internet access resolves the underlying allegations. The measure was imposed as officials attempted to stabilise the law-and-order situation and prevent further escalation. Students continued leaving campus on Monday after the university announced its 10-day academic break.

Students in Clarification Video Later Raise New Allegation

A further complication emerged after three female students appeared in a university-issued video disputing claims that an assault took place in a particular hostel room. The students later alleged that they had been instructed on what to say and that the published video was edited without their consent. They also said that they had no involvement in the alleged incident and asked social-media users to stop targeting them. Hindustan Times said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the later videos. These competing accounts reinforce why the incident remains an active investigation rather than a settled factual narrative.

LPU Postpones Mid Term Exams Until a New Schedule Is Issued

For students, the immediate academic consequence is straightforward: LPU postpones mid term exams and there is currently no replacement timetable. The university has said the revised schedule will be communicated separately. The 10-day suspension applies to regular classes from September 28, but the examination postponement is until further notice, meaning students should not automatically assume exams will resume immediately after the 10-day period. Students should therefore continue monitoring UMS and formal university communications.

Anyone travelling home should also check transport and local security conditions before returning to campus.

Academic Normalcy Depends on Investigation and Campus Security

The decision that LPU postpones mid term exams gives the administration and authorities time to restore order while the investigation proceeds. As of September 28, traffic on NH-44 has resumed, students are leaving the campus, police remain heavily deployed and the immediate situation has been described as under control. But several significant questions remain unanswered.

Police still have to establish what happened before the protests, whether an assault took place, whether university personnel mishandled any complaint and who was responsible for the subsequent violence. Until that investigation produces verified findings, the most accurate description is that the LPU Punjab protests were triggered by serious allegations that remain under investigation.

For students, meanwhile, the practical update is clear: classes are suspended for 10 days and the mid term examinations will not take place according to the original timetable.

For more updates like this, follow The United Indian and stay informed with the latest news that matters.