the institution is also considering punitive disciplinary measures against the erring students While the Punjab Police have initiated criminal action against students involved in violence and arson at Lovely Professional University (LPU).
A masked mob allegedly vandalised university property, set fire to campus buildings and damaged police vehicles. He added that the competent authority has set up a disciplinary board to conduct a detailed inquiry into the entire incident. Widespread violence broke out on the campus on September 26 after unverified reports circulated alleging that an outsider had raped a female student at the university. Protesters also allegedly pelted police personnel with stones and glass bottles before moving onto the Amritsar-Delhi National Highway (NH-44). As many as 89 students have been nominated in the criminal FIRs registered for vandalising university property and torching three police vehicles. The police have already arrested 17 people, including 15 students of the university. A police official said that contrary to the claims of the university, of the 89 students nominated in the three FIRs, 87 were students studying in several academic disciplines.
Dr Sorabh Lakhanpal, executive dean and head student welfare, said in the first phase, the university has been contemplating no action against the peaceful protesters. “While police are pursuing separate criminal cases against the vandals, the university has also identified students caught looting and robbing valuables at the university mall, breaking windowpanes, and committing other acts of arson on campus,” Lakhanpal stated.
