Panjab University has cautioned students against believing or sharing unverified information about incidents on or around its campus after social media claims were followed by unrest at Chitkara University in Rajpura and Lovely Professional University in Phagwara. The advisory asks students to rely on official university communications and avoid actions that could disturb the academic environment.
Issued by the dean, University Instruction, on Monday, the direction has been circulated to chairpersons, directors and coordinators for communication to students. The advisory says unverified information shared through social media and messaging platforms may adversely affect the university’s peaceful and harmonious academic environment.
The warning comes against the backdrop of separate developments at Chitkara University and LPU, where claims circulated online were followed by student protests and institutional disruption. The two episodes have placed renewed attention on how quickly unverified reports can shape reactions across large residential and commuter-based education campuses.
At Chitkara University in Rajpura, police said no students were missing after unrest on the campus. A daily diary report was registered in connection with campus violence, while police also examined the possible involvement of outsiders. The advisory issued by Panjab University does not link its own campus to the Chitkara incident, but urges students to verify information before forwarding or acting on it.
At Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, protests followed social media reports concerning an alleged sexual assault. Police said the claims had not been established and formed a special investigation team to examine the matter. The university suspended regular classes for 10 days and postponed mid-term examinations following the protests.
Panjab University has directed students to maintain peace and discipline and not participate in or support unlawful activities. It has also asked students to report genuine concerns to the relevant chairperson, head of department or other appropriate university authority.
The advisory places responsibility on both students and institutional channels at a time when campus incidents can spread rapidly through messaging groups and social media platforms. For universities, the immediate challenge is to communicate verified information quickly while preserving due process in cases involving allegations, safety concerns or possible criminal conduct.
The university’s instructions also distinguish between reporting a genuine concern through established authorities and circulating claims that have not been verified. The advisory asks students to use official communications for updates and to approach designated university authorities rather than rely on informal online messages.
No separate incident at Panjab University was identified in the advisory. Its stated purpose was to prevent unverified information from affecting campus peace and academic activity. The university’s next step is to communicate the directions through its academic and administrative units and ask students to follow the prescribed reporting channels.
