LPU unrest: Hundreds of Telugu students head home, cite safety concerns | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: Following the recent unrest on campus, hundreds of Telugu students — along with those from other South Indian states – studying at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab, left for their hometowns on Monday, claiming they were feeling unsafe in their student accomodations.Students whom TOI spoke to said that the developments – that snowballed after ‘outsiders’ allegedly joined their protest – had left them and their families worried and insecure.On Sept 27, massive protests erupted on the LPU campus in Punjab’s Phagwara area after rumours of alleged rape and suicide of a student inside the university, spread on social media. Vehicles were torched on the highway outside LPU, leading to police lathicharge. The varsity suspended classes for 10 days and allowed students to return to their hometowns during the break.While on their way back, students who witnessed the violence recalled how many protestors that been injured in the clash. “Even those who weren’t on campus were not spared. Police thrashed them and damaged their vehicles,” said a second-year engineering student from Kerala, who claimed that the use of weapons by non-students added to their fear.“Many students around us were having panic attacks. The entire computer science engineering (CSE) and admin blocks were damaged, along with other parts of the campus,” he said, adding that though he lives 8 km away from campus, he decided to return home to avoid any trouble.Several students said that the violence was allegedly triggered by outsiders who broke open the gate and entered the campus, though many students also joined in amid their longstanding grievances against the management.“This was not the result of one incident. Students were upset about past suicide cases on campus that went unaddressed,” said a second-year BTech student from Andhra Pradesh, while in the train back from New Delhi. “Now, there are rape allegations on campus. The university must hand over the matter to the police and take strict action against those involved.”Another BTech student from AP who alleged that the peaceful protest by girls escalated only after “boys and then outsiders” joined in, aired similar sentiments.“The management can’t ignore rape allegations,” she said claiming that a suicide by another student from Telangana, about 10 days ago, was also hushed up.Students are, meanwhile, worried about what will happen next, as the varsity has allegedly debarred four students and cancelled their scholarships over the violence.When TOI contacted the LPU office in Hyderabad, officials there dismissed the rumours and alleged that the unrest was motivated “by people outside the campus”. They said parents here have been calling to ask about their children’s safety and the situation on campus.
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