Students Stage Major Protest at Lovely Professional University, Block Highway

Hundreds of students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) blocked traffic on the National Highway adjoining the campus on Saturday as demonstrations escalated over unconfirmed reports of a sexual assault incident within the institution. The student agitation began following the circulation of allegations of rape involving a female student, prompting authorities to register a First Information Report and constitute a Special Investigation Team to investigate the matter.

Despite engagement between student representatives and police officials, the protests show no signs of abating. Demonstrators, voicing concerns about campus safety and institutional accountability, have maintained their blockade of the highway, disrupting vehicular movement in the region. The students have rejected initial police overtures to disperse, indicating broader grievances beyond the immediate incident.

University administration and law enforcement agencies have mounted efforts to resolve the standoff through dialogue. However, student leaders have demanded greater transparency in the investigation process and concrete measures to ensure campus safety. The ongoing agitation underscores heightened tensions between the student body and institutional authorities.

LPU, located in Phagwara in Punjab's Kapurthala district, has emerged as a focal point for student activism in recent months. The university's administration has urged students to allow the investigation to proceed while assuring enhanced security measures on campus. The blockade continues to affect traffic flow on a major transportation corridor in the region.