Patiala: Panic gripped Chitkara University in Punjab’s Patiala district late Thursday night after a video purportedly showing a “ghost” on the campus went viral on social media, triggering protests by hundreds of students.
The situation escalated as students clashed with police, allegedly damaged campus property and vandalised a government police vehicle. Students also raised slogans against the university management and allegedly manhandled Ajay Kumar, in-charge of the KSM police outpost in City Rajpura, during the confrontation.
Rumours of student suicide trigger panic
The unrest began after the video circulated widely on social media, prompting rumours among students that a female student had allegedly died by suicide on the campus and that her spirit was haunting students staying in the hostel.
University security personnel and senior officials rushed to the spot and tried to assure the students that no such suicide had taken place on the campus.
Officials said some unidentified persons had allegedly knocked on or slammed hostel room doors before fleeing, which may have contributed to the rumours and heightened panic among the students.
Police intervene as protest escalates
As the number of protesting students increased, the situation turned tense, with clashes reported between students and police personnel.
The incident also led to damage to campus property and vandalism of a government police vehicle. Police and university officials subsequently intervened to bring the situation under control.
Authorities are looking into the circulation of the video and the events that triggered the panic among students. Further details are awaited.