Alumnus suicide, missing students: Ghost rumour triggers vandalisation at university

A tense situation unfolded at Chitkara University in Patiala late Friday night after rumours about a ‘ghost’ on campus and two allegedly missing female students spread on social media. A large number of students gathered on the campus and began protesting amid the rumours.

The protest reportedly turned violent, with incidents of vandalism on the campus. Police teams reached the university after the situation escalated. According to police, a clash broke out between students and police personnel as they attempted to calm the students and bring the situation under control. A government police vehicle was also damaged during the violence.

During the commotion, students allegedly manhandled Ajay Kumar, the in-charge of KSM police post in City Rajpura. Students accused the police post in-charge of being under the influence of alcohol. Following the allegations, the cop was taken to the university laboratory for a medical examination. The allegations have not been independently verified.

The unrest was also fuelled by claims among students that a female student had allegedly died by suicide on the campus in the past and that her ‘ghost’ was now troubling students in the hostel. The university administration and police denied that any such suicide had taken place.

According to the administration, some miscreants had been knocking on the doors of other students' rooms at night and running away, which led to the rumours spreading.

Claims about two female students going missing also surfaced during the incident, with related posts reportedly being shared on social media. However, DSP Sukhdev Singh, who reached the spot, said no student's name or identity had emerged so far and that no student had information about which two female students were missing.

Singh said police had taken complaints from students and would investigate the matter seriously. He said the police would collect information from each student and verify the claims. If any female student is actually found to be missing, police will also conduct a full investigation into the missing-person complaint and take action according to law.

The DSP also assured parents that the situation at the university was peaceful and that the students were safe. Police remained at the spot and continued to monitor the security arrangements.

Police and the university administration also assured students that CCTV footage would be examined to establish what happened during the incidents involving people knocking on hostel room doors and the subsequent spread of rumours.

Following assurances from the authorities, the students calmed down and returned to their respective hostels.- Ends