PHAGWARA (GURPREET SINGH): A sense of unease persisted at Lovely Professional University on Monday, a day after violent protests left parts of the campus damaged and brought traffic on the adjoining National Highway to a standstill.
The road outside the university was reopened after midnight, ending a student blockade that had continued for almost 21 hours. By Monday morning, police personnel remained stationed at several points inside and around the campus as authorities worked to restore normalcy.
University officials and workers began clearing damaged areas following the violence. Cranes were deployed to tow away police vehicles that had been set ablaze on the flyover near the university during Sunday’s unrest. Cleanup operations were also underway at locations where university property had been damaged.
LPU authorities claimed that some masked individuals who were not students had been present during the disturbances. The university also alleged that some of them were carrying walkie-talkie devices. These claims are subject to verification by the authorities investigating the violence.
The unrest also triggered a significant departure of students from the campus. More than half of the university’s estimated 40,000 students had reportedly left by Monday morning, using trains, buses and private cabs. Parents from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, arrived to take their children home.
The movement followed the university’s decision to suspend campus activities for 10 days. Mid-term examinations, which were scheduled to start on October 1, have also been postponed until further announcement.
Internet connectivity remained suspended across the campus. While the restriction limited students’ ability to circulate videos and coordinate through online platforms, it also affected routine activities. Students reported difficulties making digital payments through UPI and accessing educational resources online.
One student from Jammu said many students rarely carry cash and that the situation had become more difficult after the campus ATM was damaged during the violence.
Despite the disruption, students said essential services had not completely stopped. Campus canteens were operating on Monday morning, allowing students who remained at the university to obtain food.
Security was particularly tight ahead of Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav’s visit to the university. Special DGP Parveen Sinha and Jalandhar Range DIG Naveen Singla accompanied him and briefed him on the situation and developments following the weekend’s violence.
Authorities are now focused on maintaining order, assessing the damage and ensuring the safety of students and staff as the university remains closed for regular academic activities.
