HC hears plea for CBI probe, seeks police report on LPU violence
Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday sought a comprehensive status report from Punjab Police on the violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara , following the circulation of unverified social-media claims about the alleged rape and death of a female student.
The division bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed the state counsel to file the report under the signature of the Jalandhar police commissioner , and apprise the court of the action taken by police. The next hearing is on Oct 8. A detailed order in the matter was yet to be released.
The directions came during the hearing of a PIL filed by LPU student Ravi Raj , seeking a CBI probe into the violence, arson, vandalism and alleged looting at the university, and blockade of NH-44, during the night of Sept 26-27. The petition also seeks an investigation into the origin and circulation of the unverified claims of rape and suicide, including the “role of persons who are not students of the university”.
The bench made verbal observations on whether the alleged incident actually took place, and the veracity of the claims.
The petitioner’s counsel, senior advocate Gourav Chopra, assisted by advocate Arjun Sheoran, submitted that certain miscreants were circulating rumours on Reddit and other social-media platforms regarding the alleged rape and suicide/death of two girls in the university hostel.
Additional Advocate General Chanchal Singla, appearing for the state, submitted that FIRs had been lodged and investigation was underway. He said the authorities had received information about the incident around 1.45 am. According to the state counsel, what initially appeared to be a rumour was subsequently taken up for investigation and police are in touch with Reddit to ascertain the source of the post.
The PIL, filed on Sept 28, states that the violence followed the circulation of an unverified Reddit post and subsequent messages, audio clips and videos claiming that a female student had been raped on campus, sent home, and died by suicide. The petition records that the university and police had denied knowledge of such an incident and that the claims had not been independently verified.
According to the petition, around 2,000 students gathered near hostel GH-3 in the early hours of Sept 27 and that a section of the crowd, including LPU hostellers and outsiders, moved towards the university’s main gate and Jalandhar-Phagwara highway. People carrying sticks, rods and other weapons entered the campus, damaged CCTV cameras and security offices, and indulged in arson and vandalism, it adds.
The petitioner has sought an HC-monitored CBI probe into the violence, arson, looting and blockade of NH-44, along with the creation and circulation of the unverified claims. Alternatively, the PIL seeks the constitution of a court-monitored SIT, headed by an officer not below the rank of IG, comprising officers from outside Punjab and including at least one woman officer.
It also seeks directions for preservation of CCTV footage relating to the violence and alleged incident, removal of social-media posts, videos, images and messages containing the alleged claims. It further seeks verified public updates through a designated nodal officer and measures to ensure the safety of students, particularly women and foreigners.
The PIL relies on news reports, social-media posts and screenshots concerning the protests and violence.
The division bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor directed the state counsel to file the report under the signature of the Jalandhar police commissioner , and apprise the court of the action taken by police. The next hearing is on Oct 8. A detailed order in the matter was yet to be released.
The directions came during the hearing of a PIL filed by LPU student Ravi Raj , seeking a CBI probe into the violence, arson, vandalism and alleged looting at the university, and blockade of NH-44, during the night of Sept 26-27. The petition also seeks an investigation into the origin and circulation of the unverified claims of rape and suicide, including the “role of persons who are not students of the university”.
The bench made verbal observations on whether the alleged incident actually took place, and the veracity of the claims.
The petitioner’s counsel, senior advocate Gourav Chopra, assisted by advocate Arjun Sheoran, submitted that certain miscreants were circulating rumours on Reddit and other social-media platforms regarding the alleged rape and suicide/death of two girls in the university hostel.
Additional Advocate General Chanchal Singla, appearing for the state, submitted that FIRs had been lodged and investigation was underway. He said the authorities had received information about the incident around 1.45 am. According to the state counsel, what initially appeared to be a rumour was subsequently taken up for investigation and police are in touch with Reddit to ascertain the source of the post.
The PIL, filed on Sept 28, states that the violence followed the circulation of an unverified Reddit post and subsequent messages, audio clips and videos claiming that a female student had been raped on campus, sent home, and died by suicide. The petition records that the university and police had denied knowledge of such an incident and that the claims had not been independently verified.
According to the petition, around 2,000 students gathered near hostel GH-3 in the early hours of Sept 27 and that a section of the crowd, including LPU hostellers and outsiders, moved towards the university’s main gate and Jalandhar-Phagwara highway. People carrying sticks, rods and other weapons entered the campus, damaged CCTV cameras and security offices, and indulged in arson and vandalism, it adds.
The petitioner has sought an HC-monitored CBI probe into the violence, arson, looting and blockade of NH-44, along with the creation and circulation of the unverified claims. Alternatively, the PIL seeks the constitution of a court-monitored SIT, headed by an officer not below the rank of IG, comprising officers from outside Punjab and including at least one woman officer.
It also seeks directions for preservation of CCTV footage relating to the violence and alleged incident, removal of social-media posts, videos, images and messages containing the alleged claims. It further seeks verified public updates through a designated nodal officer and measures to ensure the safety of students, particularly women and foreigners.
The PIL relies on news reports, social-media posts and screenshots concerning the protests and violence.
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