Amid the ongoing controversy over violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU), a student at the Punjab campus, Farhat, has spoken exclusively to Times Now, acknowledging that he acted in anger during the protests while denying allegations that he was the key perpetrator or brought outsiders onto the campus.
Speaking to Times Now, Farhat said he became enraged during the protests. He also clarified that the video involving a “chain” was recorded earlier, claiming that he had intervened because he wanted to protect the women’s hostel.
Farhat also denied bringing outsiders onto the LPU campus and rejected the suggestion that he was responsible for orchestrating the violence. He maintained that his actions were driven by anger and a desire to protect students, rather than any attempt to escalate the situation.
Farhat said he was visibly present and had not covered his face in the videos, while the faces of some others were obscured. He maintained that he had nothing to hide and said he remained on campus because he wanted to protect fellow students.
Recounting the moments after he became emotional, Farhat said his friends Sahil and Antre embraced him and urged him to calm down while he was angry and crying.
After a long night of violence and arson at Lovely Professional University in Punjab’s Phagwara, the biggest question that still remains unanswered is what triggered the student protests in the first place.
Here is all we know about the LPU protests and how the situation spiralled.
It All Started With A Rape Claim
The unrest reportedly began near Girls’ Hostel-3 in the early hours of Sunday after students started discussing claims that a female student had allegedly been sexually assaulted on campus by an outsider or a university worker. Some students also claimed that the incident had occurred several days earlier and that the matter was not properly addressed by the university.
The claims spread rapidly through student groups and social media. According to reports, students alleged that the girl had subsequently been sent home and that her roommate later told others that she had died by suicide.