Chandigarh, Sep 28: The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday defended the Punjab Police response to violent protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, saying the force acted with restraint and professionalism as a special probe was ordered into the incident.
Police action, SIT and student safety
AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Singh Pannu said the episode was "highly sensitive" because it involved students from Punjab, other Indian states and foreign countries. The party said safety of every student studying in Punjab was the government’s priority and that a special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to examine the events on the LPU campus.
University students went on a rampage on Sunday, vandalising property and blocking a stretch of the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway after allegations surfaced that an outsider had raped a female student on the university premises a few days earlier. Officials said protesters pelted stones at police personnel and attacked police vehicles, leaving several cops injured. By Monday, the situation at the campus remained peaceful, authorities reported.
Political reactions and AAP response
Opposition parties — the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal — criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led state government over law-and-order lapses and accused the police of laxity. Pannu, however, accused rivals of politicising the episode and said some leaders were more intent on creating controversy than helping restore calm.
“They seem to be behaving like vultures, waiting for dead bodies, rather than helping to ensure that the situation remains peaceful,”
Pannu added that some opposition figures appeared displeased that the situation was under control and that the state government did not adopt the same approach towards the students that had been used in other protests, referencing the handling of demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
Education hub concerns
Highlighting Punjab’s growing role as an education hub, Pannu noted that large numbers of students from places such as Jammu and Kashmir — particularly girls pursuing nursing and other programmes — study in Punjab’s institutions. He stressed that their safety and security were of paramount importance to the state government.
The incident has underscored broader concerns about campus safety and policing at educational institutions that host students from diverse backgrounds. The formation of an SIT indicates authorities intend a detailed inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the violence and any failures in maintaining law and order.
Timeline of key events
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Earlier this week | Allegation that an outsider raped a female student on LPU premises |
| Sunday | Students vandalised property, blocked Jalandhar-Phagwara highway and clashed with police; several police personnel injured |
| Monday | Campus reported peaceful; Punjab government announced constitution of a Special Investigation Team |
What officials say and community impact
Officials confirmed police vehicles were attacked and officers sustained injuries while trying to control the situation. The unrest disrupted traffic on a key inter-city arterial road and raised immediate concerns among families of students and local residents about continuing safety and the potential for further escalation.
Local administrations normally rely on rapid deployment of law-and-order units and dialogue with university management and student leaders to restore normalcy in campus disturbances. The SIT's scope and timeline were not disclosed by Pannu but the move signals an attempt to carry out a formal probe that could inform any subsequent action against those responsible.
Political stakes ahead
The episode has become a subject of heated political exchanges, with the opposition accusing the state government of negligence and the ruling party countering that critics are exploiting a sensitive situation. The debate is likely to continue as more details emerge from the SIT and police investigations.
- Immediate outcome: Campus peaceful on Monday; SIT constituted.
- Reported injuries: Several police personnel injured during clashes.
- Political fallout: Opposition criticism and AAP rebuttal accusing rivals of politicisation.
The probe's findings and any subsequent police or administrative measures will determine whether the incident results in prosecutions, administrative changes at the university or new protocols for campus security across Punjab. The priority, according to the state government’s statement, remains the safety of students from across India and abroad who study in the state.
