Chitkara University students protest over ‘ghost rumours’; police vehicles vandalised: Reports

Students of Chitkara University protested following an unverified social media rumour that claimed two female students were missing, TOI reported. The agitation turned violent after clashes between police and protesters allegedly vandalising two police vehicles and damaging campus property, the report said.

The unrest reportedly began after some students started rumours about ghosts on the university campus, allegedly linked to the suicide of an alumnus in a hostel, as per the report.

Later, the rumours spread on student WhatsApp and social media groups, claiming that two female students had gone missing and students also claimed that screams were heard from the girls’ hostel, it added.

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Students were unable give names, photographs: Police

The university officials and police said that the claims were baseless, the report cited. Rakesh Sharma, registrar of Chitkara University, said in the report that the administration intervened at around 10:30 pm on Friday and informed students that no such incident had taken place.

The report stated that police conducted a verification drive on the campus after the rumours spread, and Banur police station SHO inspector Gursewak Singh said protesters were unable to provide the names, photographs, roll numbers or any other identifying details of the alleged missing students, it added.

Singh stated in the report that no student had been reported missing or harmed.

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'Protesters damaged two police vehicles'

“Teams from Banur, Rajpura Sadar and Rajpura City police stations reached the campus as hundreds of hostellers gathered in common areas, raised slogans against the university administration and demanded transparency,” the report said.

As per the police report, some protesters damaged two police vehicles, including smashing their windscreens and windows, and allegedly manhandled an outpost in-charge, it added.

Furthermore, Patiala police have initiated an inquiry into the origin of the rumours and the subsequent vandalism, and no case has been registered against the students so far, it said.

In addition, the university had advised students and parents to disregard unverified claims circulating online, the report said.