Mass protests erupt at Punjab university over unverified assault claims

Hundreds of students at Lovely Professional University in Punjab's Jalandhar district staged a late-night protest on Saturday, with reports indicating approximately 2,000 participants gathered on campus. The demonstration was triggered by allegations circulating on social media platforms claiming a female student had been sexually assaulted and had subsequently died by suicide.

According to police statements, however, no formal complaint has been filed regarding the allegations, and investigating officers have found no corroborating evidence to support the claims. The university administration has not released an official statement confirming or denying the incidents described in the social media posts.

Local authorities said the protest escalated to include property damage and reports of arson on the campus. Emergency services responded to the disturbances, though the exact extent of damage and the number of individuals involved in the vandalism remained unclear as of late Saturday. Police presence was heightened on the university grounds to manage the situation.

The incident highlights growing concerns about the rapid spread of unverified claims on social media and their potential to trigger large-scale public unrest. University officials and law enforcement have appealed for calm while investigations into the actual facts of the case continue.