LPU Protest 2026: Dramatic scenes unfolded at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, as a major student protest escalated on September 27, 2026. Viral videos showed students gathering across the campus, while one student was seen climbing onto a MiG-23UM aircraft displayed at the university and a group of around 10 students appeared on top of a military tank.
The extraordinary visuals quickly attracted attention online as reports of unrest, property damage and a highway blockade emerged.
Importantly, the protests followed unverified allegations concerning an alleged sexual assault of a female student. Police launched an investigation, while LPU authorities disputed claims circulating online. The underlying allegations had not been independently established at the time of reporting.
🔴 What Happened at Lovely Professional University?
According to reports, hundreds of students gathered at the LPU campus after claims began circulating about an alleged sexual assault involving a female student.
Police said the unrest began near a girls’ hostel at around 1 am. Students alleged that an incident had taken place on September 24 and demanded answers and action.
As the gathering grew, videos showed students chanting slogans and moving through different areas of the campus.
Some of the most widely shared visuals showed a student climbing onto an Indian Air Force MiG-23UM display aircraft, while another group was seen standing on a military tank installed on campus.
✈️ Students Seen on MiG-23 and Military Tank
The MiG-23 and tank visuals became among the most striking images associated with the LPU unrest.
The aircraft is a MiG-23UM displayed on the university campus. Footage reported by multiple news outlets showed one person on the aircraft and roughly 10 students on the tank.
Other footage reportedly showed damaged window panes and flower pots, while objects and parts of a university building appeared to have been set on fire. Some campus shops were also allegedly vandalised.
The demonstrations also spilled beyond the university campus, with students blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway and disrupting traffic.
📊 LPU Protest 2026: Key Facts
| Key Detail | Latest Information |
|---|---|
| 🏫 University | Lovely Professional University (LPU) |
| 📍 Location | Phagwara, Punjab, India |
| 📅 Major Protest | September 27, 2026 |
| 🚨 Protest Trigger | Unverified allegations of sexual assault involving a female student |
| ✈️ MiG-23 Incident | Video showed a student climbing onto a MiG-23UM aircraft displayed on campus |
| 🪖 Tank Incident | Around 10 students were seen standing on a military tank displayed on campus |
| 🛣️ Highway Protest | Students blocked the Jalandhar–Phagwara section of the national highway |
| 👮 Police Action | FIR registered and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed |
| 🔍 Investigation | Police said forensic evidence, CCTV footage and phone records would be examined |
| 🏢 University’s Position | LPU rejected the allegations circulating online and described them as false and misleading |
| ⚠️ Current Status | The underlying allegations remain under investigation and have not been independently established |
🚔 Police Register Case and Investigation Begins
Police responded to the allegations by registering a case based on information provided by students. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also formed to investigate the matter.
Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said police had initially found no substantiating evidence corroborating the alleged incident, according to reports, but authorities continued investigating the students’ claims.
This distinction is important: the existence of an investigation does not itself establish that the allegations are true or false.
🏫 What Has LPU Said?
Lovely Professional University disputed the allegations circulating on social media and urged students to remain calm and avoid participating in disruptive activities.
The situation became more complicated after the university released a video featuring three students who denied that the alleged incident had occurred in their hostel room. NDTV subsequently reported that those students later claimed they had been instructed about what to say and that parts of their statements had been used without their consent.
Those competing claims underline why conclusions should await the police investigation.
🔥 Why Did the LPU Protest Go Viral?
The protest gained widespread attention because of the unusual and dramatic footage emerging from the campus.
Images of students standing on a military tank and a student climbing the MiG-23UM aircraft provided striking visuals that rapidly circulated online. Reports of damaged property, fire and the highway blockade further increased public attention.
The incident also demonstrates why rapidly spreading social-media claims require careful verification, particularly when they concern serious criminal allegations.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at LPU in Punjab?
Students gathered at Lovely Professional University following unverified allegations of a sexual assault. The demonstration escalated, with footage showing property damage and students climbing military exhibits on campus.
Why were students protesting at LPU?
The demonstrations followed claims circulating among students and online about an alleged sexual assault involving a female student. Authorities began investigating the allegations.
Did students climb a MiG-23 at LPU?
Yes. Videos reported by news organisations showed a student climbing a MiG-23UM aircraft displayed on the university campus.
Did students also climb a military tank?
Yes. Footage showed a group of roughly 10 students standing on a military tank installed at LPU.
Has the alleged sexual assault been confirmed?
At the time of the latest reports cited here, the allegation had not been independently established. Police registered a case and formed an SIT, while LPU disputed claims circulating online.
📰 Conclusion
The LPU protest in Punjab drew nationwide attention after dramatic videos showed students climbing a MiG-23UM aircraft and military tank amid a wider campus demonstration.
The central allegations that triggered the unrest remain a matter for investigation. With police examining the claims and the university disputing information circulating online, verified findings from investigators will be crucial in establishing what occurred.
