A protest broke out at a private university near Rajpura in Patiala after unverified claims spread that two female students had died by suicide on the campus. The incident has raised tensions at Chitkara University, where students gathered in large numbers to demand answers.
The situation escalated when some students allegedly damaged a Punjab Police patrol vehicle during the protest. Videos that appear to show the damaged vehicle have been circulating on social media, drawing wider attention to the events on campus.
Chitkara University Denies Suicide Claims
The administration of Chitkara University has firmly denied that any suicide incident took place. In a statement, the university said there was no truth to the claims being spread and urged students not to believe rumours.
The university also stated that the local administration and police authorities are working closely to address the unsubstantiated claims made by some students. This suggests that officials are treating the situation as a case of misinformation that has spiralled into unrest.
Police Inquiry Underway as Tensions Simmer
Police have confirmed they are conducting an inquiry into the matter. While the exact sequence of events remains unclear, the focus now is on verifying the claims that triggered the protest and determining how the situation escalated to the point of property damage.
The protest took place on Friday night, with a large number of students participating. The involvement of a police vehicle being damaged indicates the protest went beyond a peaceful demonstration, though the full details are still being investigated.
Our Take: Rumours Can Be Dangerous
In our view, this incident highlights a serious problem — the speed at which unverified information can spread and cause real-world chaos. Whether the claims about the two students are true or false, the fact that a protest and property damage occurred before any official confirmation shows how quickly rumours can take hold.
To put it plainly, students have every right to demand answers and raise their voices if they feel something is wrong. But damaging public property or attacking police vehicles only distracts from the actual issue and puts everyone at risk. If there is a genuine concern about student safety or mental health on campus, that conversation needs to happen with facts, not fear.
The university and police now have a responsibility to complete their inquiry quickly and share clear findings. If the claims are false, those spreading them should be held accountable. If there is any truth to them, the administration must answer for why students felt the need to protest in the first place. Either way, transparency is the only way forward.
For students and parents, this is a reminder to verify information before acting on it. Social media can amplify panic faster than facts can catch up. The best thing anyone can do right now is wait for the official inquiry to conclude and avoid spreading unconfirmed details.
