Full Breakdown
Arrests Linked to Chitkara University Protest Over Social-Media Rumours
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
On the night of September 25, a video claiming a “ghost” on the Chitkara University campus went viral, and separate rumours circulated that two female students had gone missing from the girls’ hostel. Police investigations later identified the missing-students claim as a student-run prank, while the ghost video contributed to heightened anxiety among students. The combined misinformation sparked a large-scale protest that continued into the early hours thereafter, during which participants damaged two police vehicles and assaulted a police officer.
Police Action and Arrests
Punjab Police arrested two former university students—identified as Himanshu (resident of Nangal) and Aryan (resident of Ambala)—for allegedly using multiple social-media groups to spread the false messages that incited the unrest. Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans stated that the two men were former students of the private university. DSP Banur Sukhdev Singh also confirmed the arrests and noted that ten additional individuals have been named in the FIR. The first information report was filed on September 29, and teams have been dispatched to locate the remaining suspects.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
The accused have been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including attempt to murder, wrongful confinement, obstruction of a public servant, assault on a public servant, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, disturbing public peace, rioting, unlawful assembly, and criminal conspiracy. Police continue to examine social-media activity, messages circulated by students, and other alleged troublemakers. Authorities have emphasized that strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for damaging public property or obstructing government employees in the discharge of their duties.
Official Statements & Responses
Senior Superintendent Harmandeep Singh Hans attributed the escalation directly to the spread of misleading rumours across multiple online groups. DSP Banur Sukhdev Singh reiterated the police commitment to maintaining law and order and warned that further arrests would follow as the investigation proceeds. Both officials described the protest as a disturbance of public peace that required decisive legal intervention.
What’s Next
Police are actively pursuing the ten additional persons named in the FIR and have indicated that further arrests are expected as the inquiry advances. The investigation remains open, with authorities monitoring online platforms for any additional misinformation that could provoke further unrest.