Police, students injured in mayhem over ‘rape’ incident

LAHORE: Around 32, including students and police officials, injured as hundreds of students staged massive protests across various campuses of a private college here on Monday following an alleged rape incident involving a female student and a non-teaching staff member at the Gulberg campus.

The protests turned violent at some campuses, including Gulberg, Chauburji and other campuses with students vandalising college property, setting furniture ablaze, and clashing with campus security and police. Several students were injured in the chaos.

Heavy police contingent was seen outside many campuses with reports of police action against the protesting students leading to injuries. Rescue 1122 shifted over 20 students to different hospitals for treatment. There were unconfirmed reports of some students being seriously injured in clashes with security guards and police but the same could not be verified. SP Model Town, ASP Gulberg and SHO were also injured in the incident as students pelted stones on them. The demos caused severe traffic mess in adjacent localities as well as on main roads even The Mall following the traffic police installed diversions outside the campuses where violence took place. The information about the alleged incident had gone viral on social media on Sunday, adding to the anger among the general public expressing concerns over lack of security for female students at the college campuses.

The college authorities have, however, denied any such incident taking place observing that they were cooperating with the local and police authorities. In an official statement while terming the incident ‘false claims circulating on social media’, the management of the college stated: ‘Despite the lack of credible evidence supporting these allegations, we remain fully committed to transparency and will continue to work closely with the authorities to ensure a fair and thorough process.’

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat visited the Gulberg campus, promising swift action. ‘We will investigate this incident thoroughly and take strict action against those responsible,’ he assured.

The minister also warned that if necessary, the campus would be sealed off and its registration revoked. He also directed police not to use force against the protesting students. Meanwhile, the DPI Colleges also suspended the registration of the campus pending further action.

‘The Registration granted vide No. 430/LHR/16811-17/G-7, dated: 27.04.2023, 43 & 43-A, Block-E-I, Gulberg-III, Lahore, for the teaching of FA, FSc (Pre-Med & Pre-Eng), ICS, ICom, classes for the year. 2022-2024, is hereby suspended till further orders,’ reads the suspension notice.

On social media, the students and citizens are demanding justice for the alleged victim and better security measures on campuses. It is pertinent to mention that after the morning protests in different campuses the management suspended afternoon classes due to fears of further protests but it did not help as protests were also reported from the afternoon shifts like at Rewaz Garden campus.

Sources said that even though there wasn't an official notice, campuses will stay closed on Tuesday (today) to fix damages, avoid any potential unrest, and take necessary precautions. Likewise, many parents have said they won't send their children to college until things settle down.

A spokesperson for college told The News that except for the Gulberg campus, rest of the campuses would remain open on Tuesday (today). Our correspondent adds: Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that in a private college incident, no girl has reported to the Punjab police so far. Today, a name was highlighted, and inquiries were made at the homes of all girls with that name, but no affected girl was found; all denied it. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is receiving updates on this matter continuously. Instead of politicising the plight of the innocent girls, if anyone has verified information or knows a victim then do share it with the Punjab government. The guard accused in the private college incident has been in police custody since Sunday. Azma Bokhari expressed profound sorrow over the tragic incident. While talking about the Punjab University incident, the information minister emphasised that we should care for the old father and no one should be allowed to politicise this sorrowful incident. She urged the people to consider others’ daughters as their own and refrain from displaying posters of their families.