At least 150 violent protesters were arrested in Rawalpindi as police used tear gas to disperse students demonstrating against the alleged rape of a Lahore student.
Social media posts last week alleging the rape of a private college student by a security guard prompted police to arrest the accused.
Enraged by the alleged incident, students organized protests via social media and gathered outside various colleges in Lahore over the past few days. On Monday, clashes with college security guards and police left at least 28 injured.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz dismissed the allegations as “fabricated news,” accusing PTI of disseminating “fake reports.” Punjab Group of Colleges (PGC) Director Agha Tahir and other officials called the incident “baseless.”
Read: Maryam Nawaz’s Response Fails to Quell Protests Over Punjab College Assault
Read: FIA Investigates Spread of False Information in Alleged Lahore College Incident
Today, Rawalpindi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hafiz Kamran Asghar stated that around 150 violent protesters had been arrested, and the situation was now fully controlled.
According to Rawalpindi Police’s X account, officers are stationed throughout the city to maintain order.
The post stated, “Rawalpindi Police is ready to address any disturbances. ” It advised parents to discourage their children from engaging in illegal activities to avoid jeopardizing their futures.
By Wednesday, the unrest had spread to other cities in Punjab, and students had vandalized and set fire to various PGC campuses.
The violence resulted in the death of a college security guard in Gujrat district, leading to murder charges against at least 185 individuals..
