Chitkara University in Rajpura, Punjab, has suspended regular academic activities for four days, from Monday, September 28, to Thursday, October 1. This move follows an uproar among students caused by unverified reports regarding the deaths of two female students on campus.
According to a circular issued by the university on September 27, these four days will be treated as “non-teaching working days” due to “administrative reasons.” However, faculty and staff have been asked to report for duty as usual. The university circular cites “administrative reasons” for the decision but makes no mention of the student protests or the rumours.
What happened at Chitkara University?
This decision comes a few days after a commotion erupted among students at the university’s Punjab campus and on social media due to circulating rumors. Late on the night of Friday, September 25, hundreds of students gathered on campus following unverified reports that two female students were missing or had committed suicide in the hostel.
According to reports, these rumours were accompanied by bizarre claims regarding the presence of a “ghost” on campus and screams being heard from the girls’ hostel. The situation escalated into a protest involving clashes between students and the police, resulting in damage to Chitkara University campus property and a police vehicle. Subsequently, police and university officials stated that no evidence was found regarding the death or disappearance of any student.
According to the police, these rumors stemmed from several separate incidents, including a prank involving eerie sounds, the arrival of an ambulance at the girls’ hostel on the morning of September 24 (when a student returned from the hospital), and a priest visiting the hostel to meet his daughter. Chitkara University also issued a clarification stating that no death or suicide had occurred at the girls’ hostel and urged students not to spread unverified information.
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