Punjab: Student protests erupt at university after social media posts about alleged rape

Police forces, including senior officers and SSPs from the Jalandhar Range, were deployed at the university following the protests. Representational Pic/File/iStock

Massive student protests erupted at a university in Punjab's Phagwara area on Sunday after reports circulated on social media about the alleged rape of a woman student on the university campus, reported the ANI.

Police said the facts of the alleged incident are still being investigated and that they have not yet confirmed whether the student was raped on the university premises.

An FIR has been registered against multiple unidentified people as the investigation continues.

According to the ANI, DIG Jalandhar Range Naveen Singla said that the students began protesting at around 2 am on Sunday after the reports spread on social media.

Police said that some protesters allegedly vandalised property on the campus and later blocked the Chandigarh-Amritsar National Highway.

Police forces, including senior officers and SSPs from the Jalandhar Range, were deployed at the university following the protests.

Police investigate incident

DIG Singla said the students' main concern was the alleged rape of a female student, which they said had taken place three days earlier, on September 24, as per the ANI.

The police said the woman had been staying in the university hostel but later returned to her home.

Officials said police have recorded the woman's statement and registered a case based on the information received.

The investigation will include forensic examination, CCTV footage and phone analysis, according to the DIG, the news agency reported.

Identity of accused not known

The identity of the alleged accused has not been established so far.

Police said the FIR has been registered against multiple unknown persons while investigators work to establish the facts and identify those responsible, if a crime is confirmed, as per the ANI.

The DIG also said the investigation would be conducted in consultation with student representatives.

Students raise hostel safety demands

Apart from seeking action in connection with the alleged incident, students have raised concerns about the safety and staffing of women's hostels.

One of their demands is that only female staff should be employed in women's hostels.

DIG Singla said officials would discuss the students' demands with the university management, reported the ANI.

Student representatives were also scheduled to meet the university administration on Sunday to discuss the incident and their concerns.

Probe underway

Police said that the investigation is under way and that technical and forensic evidence will be examined before conclusions are drawn about what happened.

Officials have urged that the facts of the case be established through the investigation as the university and students await further information.

(with ANI inputs)