Phagwara: Punjab Police have arrested nine people in connection with the violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, including seven students and two outsiders, while 20 accused have been identified and named in the case, police said.

DIG Naveen Singla said at a press conference that arrests had been made from Phagwara, Jammu and Mumbai in connection with the violence at the university.

Police have also identified and arrested the person who climbed onto the MiG-23UM fighter jet installed outside the campus during the violence. The accused was traced with the help of CCTV footage and arrested from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district.

The accused is a minor and an LPU student from Mandi. His father is reportedly posted as an officer at the Mandi DC office.

Police Say Students Pelted Stones, Damaged Vehicles

According to DIG Singla, students allegedly pelted stones at police and media personnel during the violence. Several vehicles were damaged and some were set on fire.

He said police did not initially resort to a lathi charge. According to the DIG, police moved to disperse the protesters after stone-pelting began and vehicles were allegedly set ablaze.

Police have so far registered four cases in connection with the incident. Three of them relate to blocking the highway, setting a police vehicle on fire and vandalism at the university.

20 Accused Identified Through CCTV, Digital Evidence

Singla said 20 people have been identified and named in the cases, while the investigation and efforts to arrest other accused are continuing.

Two FIRs have been registered at Sataanpur police station and Sadar Phagwara police station — FIR 163 and FIR 106, respectively.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) examined social media posts, news channel footage and CCTV recordings from LPU and other locations to identify those allegedly involved in the violence.

Among those arrested are James Dahiya from Sonipat, Gagandeep alias Kotha and Jasmeet Kumar from Phagwara, and Ashutosh from Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh. A juvenile has also been arrested.

Minor Seen On Fighter Jet Arrested

The minor who climbed onto the MiG-23UM fighter jet during the violence was reportedly portrayed as a hero on social media. A photograph showing him standing on the aircraft with flames visible in the background had gone viral.

LPU Chancellor and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal said the MiG-23 and a tank used in the 1971 war have been installed outside the university campus to honour the armed forces and inspire young people.

He said climbing onto the military exhibits was disrespectful to the armed forces.

Two Pizza Delivery Workers Among Those Arrested

Police said nine people have been arrested so far in the LPU violence cases. According to the police, the arrested persons include two pizza delivery workers and two LPU students.

Besides the minor, police have arrested James Dahiya, who lives in Shiv Colony in Sonipat city, Gagandeep alias Kotha of Phagwara and Jasmeet Kumar of Swami Param Nagar in Phagwara.

Police have also arrested Sahil, a university student from Jammu’s Doda district, from his residence.

Some other people have also been detained and are being questioned as investigators continue to establish the sequence of events and identify others allegedly involved in the violence.