Indian University Students Protest Over Alleged Rape in Girls Hostel Turns Violent, Vehicles Set Ablaze

India: Students of a university in Phagwara, Punjab, staged a strong protest over the alleged rape of a female student in a girls’ hostel, with the demonstration turning violent. Protesters damaged university property, smashed window panes and set vehicles on fire, while the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway has remained blocked for several hours.

The protest began near the girls’ hostel during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday following allegations that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted by an outsider at the university hostel a few days earlier. Students alleged that the university administration had failed to take appropriate action over the reported incident.

Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora initially said police had received no prior information about any such crime. However, an FIR was later registered at Satnam Pura Police Station against an unidentified person under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on the basis of a student’s statement.

Jalandhar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Navin Singla said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted to investigate the matter. The team will examine available CCTV footage, forensic evidence and other technical information to establish the facts of the alleged incident.

The situation remains under police control as authorities continue their investigation into both the alleged sexual assault and the violence and damage reported during the protest.