Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has reacted to the protests and violence at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, following allegations concerning the sexual assault of a female student. His response came after questions were raised on social media about his silence on the developments at the university.

In his social media post, Dipke questioned whether outsiders had entered the university campus during the unrest. He argued that students should not be held responsible for the entire situation without examining allegations concerning the presence of people from outside the campus.

Dipke also raised concerns about the safety of women students. He called on the Punjab Police to investigate how outsiders could allegedly enter the campus and what happened to the security arrangements during the unrest. He also shared a video and a screenshot of a conversation while making these observations. The claims shown in the material shared on social media have not been independently verified. 

What happened at LPU?

Lovely Professional University is located in Phagwara, Punjab. Protests began after unverified claims circulated regarding the alleged sexual assault of a female student and subsequent developments connected to the case. Police initially said that the facts surrounding the allegation were being verified. 

The protests later escalated into violence. Students damaged property on the campus, some objects were set on fire and the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway was blocked. Clashes between protesters and police were also reported, with several police personnel reportedly injured. 

Police register FIR and form SIT

Police have registered an FIR in connection with the allegations. According to reports, the case was initiated on the statement of a female student. Jalandhar Range Deputy Inspector General Naveen Singla announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to examine the matter.

The SIT includes police officials, a woman police officer and student representatives, according to the police statement. The investigation is expected to examine the allegations and establish the facts surrounding the incident. 

University denies the allegations

LPU has denied the allegations and described the claims being circulated as false and baseless. The university appealed to students, parents and the public not to circulate unverified information and asked them to rely on official communications. 

The university also released a video featuring three female students who initially denied that such an incident had occurred. Later, the students reportedly alleged that they had been instructed about what to say in the video. These claims also require verification and should not be treated as established facts without the outcome of an investigation. 

Classes and examinations suspended

Following the violence, LPU suspended classes for 10 days from September 28. Mid-term examinations were also postponed until further notice. Students staying on campus were advised to remain in their hostels or residences and avoid unnecessary movement while the situation remained tense. 

What did Dipke question?

Dipke's response focused primarily on campus security and the alleged presence of outsiders. He questioned how people from outside could allegedly enter the university and called for an investigation into the security arrangements.

The matter is now being investigated by the police. While the university has denied the allegations circulating about the incident, an FIR has been registered and an SIT has been constituted. The facts surrounding the alleged sexual assault, the subsequent protests and the violence will therefore depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.