Now Reading: LPU violence: Mittal calls it conspiracy, police probe Reddit posts
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LPU violence: Mittal calls it conspiracy, police probe Reddit posts
The Story in Brief
Lovely Professional University (LPU) Chancellor and Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal has called the violence on campus a ‘conspiracy’ against the institution and Punjab, India Today reports. He said no rape occurred and that the university would seek action against any students found responsible. Punjab Police say investigations found no factual basis for the viral allegations, Special DGP Praveen Sinha told Hindustan Times that a post on Reddit led to the escalation. The cybercrime division has blocked over 100 posts and accounts.
The BBC reports that unrest began on 27 September after word spread of an alleged rape. Hostels emptied and classes were suspended for 10 days. Insurance surveyors are assessing damage that LPU officials say runs into crores. A seven-member special investigation team has been formed. At Chitkara University, false claims of student suicides sparked unrest, which police said were unfounded.
Student Farhat, prominently visible in protest videos, told Times Now he acted in anger and denied bringing outsiders onto campus. Mint reports that Uni Mall was looted of PS5s, phones, laptops and perfumes, but bookstores were left untouched. Police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person despite having no formal complainant or named accused.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pro-government coverage (India Today, Hindustan Times, Mint) leads with Mittal’s conspiracy charge and police findings that rumours on Reddit and social media caused the unrest, foregrounding institutional denial and the absence of evidence. The BBC and Times Now instead centre the student protest, the unverified rape allegation and the emotional reaction, with Times Now offering the protester’s account. Mint’s looting detail and India Today’s mention of a previous suicide near campus add context the BBC omits. All outlets agree on the core facts: no rape confirmed, an FIR filed without a victim, and an SIT investigating. The divergence lies in whether the story is about a baseless rumour exploited by outsiders or about student anger over a safety failure that remains unresolved.
Police and the university continue to investigate, no charges have been filed.
Coverage: 6 sources, 1 pro-government, 5 neutral
Sources (6): bbc.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (2) (neutral report), timesnownews.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (pro government), livemint.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 6 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 30 September 2026: this story now draws on 6 sources.
