Jalandhar: Punjab Police have made significant headway in the investigation into the vandalism, violence, and looting that erupted at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, arresting nine suspects so far. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Naveen Singla disclosed that 20 individuals—including a minor—have been named across three distinct First Information Reports (FIRs) registered in connection with the unrest.
Timeline of Events and Administrative Response
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Arrests and Jurisdictions: Out of the nine arrested suspects, seven are enrolled students at the university, while two are external perpetrators. Arrests were carried out across multiple locations, including Phagwara, Jammu, Mumbai, and Himachal Pradesh.
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De-escalation Efforts: DIG Singla stated that law enforcement initially refrained from using force when students blocked the National Highway on September 27. Authorities accepted the agitators’ primary demands by registering an FIR in an alleged rape case and establishing a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
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Breakdown of Negotiations: Police facilitated direct talks between student representatives, university administrator Rashmi Mittal, and the SIT, maintaining dialogue for nearly 24 hours without coercive measures. However, dissenting factions among the demonstrators escalated the agitation, resorting to violence and vandalising police vehicles on the night of September 27.
Key Suspects Identified and Apprehended
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Delivery Personnel Involved in Looting: On October 1, police arrested Gagandeep and Jasmeet, both residents of Phagwara employed as pizza delivery workers with Domino’s. Investigations revealed that after learning of the chaos on campus, the duo entered the premises specifically to carry out looting and theft.
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Social Media Influencer James Dahiya: James Dahiya, an LPU student originally from Sonipat, Haryana, who runs an on-campus eatery named Taste of Punjab, was arrested for instigating students and participating in property damage. Boasting over 4,500 followers on Instagram, Dahiya frequently filmed and circulated inflammatory videos from inside the campus to incite unrest.
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Minor Apprehended for Scaling MiG-23 Display: CCTV surveillance led investigators to identify and apprehend a minor student who scaled the MiG-23UM fighter aircraft monument displayed outside the campus. The suspect, an LPU student from Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh whose father serves as an official in the Mandi Deputy Commissioner’s office, was taken into custody from Himachal Pradesh.
Police confirmed that active operations and raids are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects named in the investigation.
