Punjab Police Arrest Eight Across States Following LPU Campus Protests and Violence

Punjab police teams have fanned out across multiple states to arrest eight people, including six students and two outsiders, in connection with recent violence, looting, and attacks on police personnel at the Lovely Professional University campus. The arrests span Phagwara, Mumbai, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, following four FIRs registered across local police stations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Act. Those apprehended include Antriksh Dutta, Sahil Singh, Krishna Kumar Rajesh, Bhavishya Karan, James Dahiya, Ashutosh, Gagandeep, and Jasmeet Kumar, with several produced before a local court and remanded to police custody. A minor student was picked up from Mandi for allegedly standing on a decommissioned MiG fighter aircraft during the unrest, while social media influencer and student Mohammed Farhat managed to evade police in Doda. Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla stated that 20 people have been identified so far, and special investigation teams are analyzing CCTV footage, social media posts, and technical evidence.

Context

The unrest began after unverified claims circulated on social media regarding an alleged sexual assault on campus, leading to mass protests that blocked National Highway 44 for over 18 hours before escalating into stone-pelting and property damage. Police stated they initially exercised restraint to avoid coercive action against students before intervening when protesters began attacking law enforcement and damaging vehicles. Authorities are still investigating the core allegations and have not yet traced any victim.