Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh/Jalandhar
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has taken a strict stance over the protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU) following allegations of rape involving a student. The protests led to the blocking of a National Highway and caused major traffic disruptions in the region.
Chief Minister has directed authorities to take the strictest possible action against anyone found guilty in the case. He also instructed Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav to personally visit the site, assess the situation, and ensure that law and order is maintained.
Following the Chief Minister’s directions, the police administration intensified its response and began closely monitoring the developments. DGP Gaurav Yadav has been asked to review the law-and-order situation on the ground, interact with students, and gather detailed information about the incident and the subsequent protests.
CM Mann emphasized that any individual found responsible after investigation should face stringent legal action in accordance with the law.
The protests erupted after a message related to the alleged rape of a student at LPU went viral on social media, prompting a large number of students to take to the streets. Protesters blocked the National Highway, severely affecting traffic movement between Jalandhar and Ludhiana.
Long queues of vehicles were reported from the LPU campus through Rama Mandi up to PAP Chowk. In response to the traffic congestion, police implemented diversion plans. Vehicles heading towards Rama Mandi were redirected via the Hoshiarpur Road, while traffic moving from Jalandhar towards Cantt was routed in phases through Cantt and Nakodar before rejoining the highway.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as efforts are underway to restore normalcy and investigate the allegations.
