A tense situation unfolded at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, after reports of an alleged sexual assault involving a female student began circulating among students and on social media.

According to reports, the protest began near the girls' hostel during the early hours of September 27. Students demanded an investigation into the allegation and questioned the university administration over campus security and the handling of the reported incident.

The situation later escalated dramatically. Parts of the university property were damaged, vehicles were attacked and the protest spilled onto National Highway-44, disrupting traffic between Jalandhar and Phagwara. Clashes between protesters and police were also reported, with police using measures to bring the situation under control.

Police subsequently registered an FIR against an unidentified person based on a student's statement concerning the alleged sexual assault. A Special Investigation Team was constituted to investigate the allegation and establish what actually happened.

The case remains under investigation. The Punjab State Women Commission has also sought a detailed report from the Kapurthala district administration and police, including the FIR, SIT investigation status and information about security arrangements for women students at LPU.

LPU Dean Dr Sorabh Lakhanpal, speaking to NDTV, said the allegation spread rapidly after a social-media post and described the subsequent unrest as "rumour rage."

The dean said the university, civil administration and police had investigated the allegation but had not found evidence supporting the sexual-assault claim so far. He also said students were given access to CCTV footage and were allowed to inspect a hostel area they believed could be connected with the allegation.

According to the dean, the protest initially remained peaceful and focused on dialogue with the university administration. He alleged that the situation later deteriorated when masked individuals entered the campus and vandalised property. He said police were investigating the identities of those involved.

The controversy deepened after LPU released a video featuring three female students from a hostel room that had been mentioned in connection with the allegation.

The students later said on social media that the video released by the university had been edited and that they had not consented to its publication. They also said they were facing harassment following the circulation of the video.

The conflicting accounts have added another layer to an already sensitive investigation.

Following the violence, LPU suspended regular classes for 10 days from September 28 and postponed mid-term examinations until further notice.

The campus subsequently returned to a calmer situation, while many students left for their homes. Traffic on NH-44 was restored after the highway blockade ended, and Punjab Police warned that action would be taken against those found responsible for vandalism and violence.

The Punjab State Women Commission has meanwhile asked authorities to provide details of the investigation, hostel security, CCTV surveillance and measures taken to protect the privacy and safety of the student involved in the complaint.

The key questions surrounding the LPU protests now depend on the ongoing police investigation. Authorities must establish the facts behind the sexual-assault allegation, identify those responsible for the campus violence and determine how the social-media claims spread.

For now, the alleged assault has not been established as fact, while the FIR and SIT investigation remain active. The contrasting statements from the university, students and authorities make the ongoing investigation particularly important in determining what happened at LPU and how the situation escalated into widespread campus unrest.