When a Rumour Shook a Campus: The LPU Protest
A campus is supposed to be a place where young minds question the world. But what happens when one unverified message becomes powerful enough to shake the entire campus? On September 27, 2026, Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, witnessed intense student protests after reports circulated on social media alleging that a female student had been sexually assaulted on campus. What began as concern among students soon escalated into clashes, vandalism, fires and the blocking of the Jalandhar–Phagwara National Highway. But beneath the noise of the protest lies a much bigger story — a story about fear, trust and the speed at which information travels. The allegation itself remains under investigation. Police registered an FIR against an unidentified person and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), while LPU authorities denied that the alleged assault had occurred and described the claims as false and fabricated. And this is where the situation becomes more complica...