Punjab Newsline | Jalandhar
Police have arrested nine people so far in connection with the violence and vandalism at Lovely Professional University (LPU). Seven of the arrested accused are university students, while two are outsiders, police said on Friday.
Among those arrested is a minor LPU student from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. According to police, the student’s father is posted as an officer at the Mandi Deputy Commissioner’s office.
During the investigation, police found that a photograph of the minor had gone viral on social media following the violence. In the photograph, he is seen standing on a fighter aircraft displayed on the university campus, with flames visible in the background. The image was circulated on social media portraying him as a “hero”. Police, however, said that his exact role and the allegations against him would be determined only after completion of the investigation and legal process.
DIG Naveen Singla addressed a press conference on Friday in the presence of SSP Gaurav Toor and SIT in-charge Vineet Ahlawat. Singla said police did not initially resort to a lathi-charge during the incident.
According to the DIG, the situation escalated after a group of students allegedly pelted stones at police personnel and media representatives and damaged and set vehicles on fire. He said police teams then moved to disperse those involved in the violence and bring the situation under control.
Singla said two accused were arrested from Phagwara during the investigation, while others were arrested from Jammu and Mumbai. Of the nine people arrested so far, seven are students and two are outsiders, police said.
Police have also identified and named 20 accused in the case on the basis of CCTV footage, available digital evidence and other information gathered during the investigation.
The police said the investigation is still underway and the role of other people allegedly involved in stone-pelting, vandalism, violence and arson is being examined. Further legal action will be taken against the arrested accused on the basis of the evidence available in the case.
