LAHORE: Students clashed with police and college security on Monday during protests at a private college in Lahore following the alleged rape of a female student by a security guard.
The unrest resulted in at least 27 injuries, including five police personnel.
Enraged by the incident, students gathered outside the college campus in Gulberg and stormed the premises, breaking down gates and walls, vandalizing classrooms, and setting furniture ablaze. They also damaged CCTV cameras in a show of anger over the alleged incident.
The situation escalated when a heavy contingent of police was deployed to disperse the crowd.
In the ensuing clashes, several students were injured, and one student was reported to be seriously hurt and transferred to Services Hospital Lahore for treatment.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat reached the scene to pacify the protesters. He assured them that their demands would be met, leading to a temporary ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Education Department announced the suspension of the college’s registration, pending further investigation.
The allegations first surfaced on social media, prompting students from various campuses, including Muslim Town and Airline Society, to join in the protests.
Police said that as of Monday afternoon, no first information report (FIR) had been filed, as the victim’s family had not come forward to register a complaint.
Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Faisal Kamran said that police were working to locate the alleged victim and her family to initiate a formal investigation. He emphasized that claims circulating on social media could not yet be verified. “So far, no evidence has confirmed the allegations, and our investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Kamran noted that the clashes were triggered when students demanded the principal’s custody in response to the alleged rape. He confirmed that police were in contact with both the students and college administration, urging them to cooperate in the inquiry.
Minister Hayat vowed that if evidence of wrongdoing by the college administration surfaced, severe action, including the potential sealing of the college, would be taken. He asked police to exercise restraint during.
In a related statement, the Punjab Group of Colleges insisted that no rape incident had occurred, attributing the unrest to “false claims” circulating on social media.
They emphasized their commitment to ensuring a secure environment for students and pledged to take legal action against any negative propaganda.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari urged anyone with verified information about the alleged incident to come forward.
She clarified that no girl had reported the incident to the police, adding that inquiries into the claims had yielded no results. Bokhari stated that the accused guard had been in police custody since the allegations surfaced, and emphasized the need to respect the victim’s privacy if she is identified.
As the situation remains fluid, students and faculty are anxiously awaiting further developments, hoping for transparency and justice in the wake of this alarming incident.