{
  "id": 10128731,
  "title": "Punjab uni students hold protest, block highway",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/punjab-uni-students-hold-protest-block-highway",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T03:56:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/private-university-students-hold-protest-block-highway-over-unverified-gangrape-report-lovely-professional-university/articleshow/134514408.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Sunday morning, a group of students from Lovely Professional University in Phagwara initiated a protest and engaged in disruptive activities on campus after they encountered unverified reports on social media alleging a female student had been raped. Superintendent of Police Kapurthula, Gaurav Toora, stated that there is no concrete evidence to support these claims.\n\nVideos shared on social media depicted the students damaging window panes, flower pots, and even setting some objects ablaze. They had also managed to block the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway. Toora informed reporters that the situation had escalated due to rumors, which prompted the students to gather at the Lovely Professional University campus around 1:45 am.\n\nAccording to Toora, when his team arrived at the scene, they discovered that the students had some grievances with the LPU administration. He explained that they spoke with the students, addressing their concerns, and are now working towards resolving the issues. He emphasized that the current situation is under control.\n\nToora added that an assessment of the property damage has been conducted, and appropriate legal actions will be taken as necessary. Responding to a question, he mentioned that the students reported that their problems had not been adequately addressed.\n\nThe police presence at the university has been augmented, and they confirmed that the situation is now under control. This incident occurred a day after students from Chitkara University in Patiala organized a protest over unverified claims that two female students had allegedly committed suicide on the campus.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Students from Lovely Professional University initiated protest over unverified rape report.",
    "Protesters damaged property, blocked highway, causing disruption.",
    "Police handling situation, assessing damages, will take necessary legal actions."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The protest and property damage reflect a pattern of students reacting swiftly and violently to unverified social media reports, highlighting a challenge for administrations and police in managing campus unrest.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Second Punjab varsity hit by ‘rape-suicide’ protests; buildings set ablaze, Delhi-Amritsar highway blocked",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/second-punjab-varsity-hit-by-rape-suicide-protests-buildings-set",
        "published": "2026-09-27T04:47:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Punjab varsity students protest, block highway over unverified rape report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/punjab-varsity-students-protest-block-highway-over-unverified-rape",
        "published": "2026-09-27T06:08:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}