Lahore college rape case: One dead, dozens injured as massive violence rocks Pakistan

Lahore (Uttam Hindu News) : Violent protests have erupted across Pakistan's Punjab province following the viral reports of an alleged rape of a private college student in Lahore. Students from various colleges in Rawalpindi took to the streets, blocking main highways in response to the incident reportedly involving a security guard. The situation escalated as police arrested at least 150 protesters and deployed tear gas to disperse crowds. The protests have persisted for four days, with demonstrators criticizing the provincial government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for allegedly attempting to cover up the incident.

In a stark contrast to the protesters' claims, the provincial government has labeled the allegations of rape as fake, asserting that the girl and her parents deny any wrongdoing. Afgha Tahir, Director of Punjab Group of Colleges, stated that the security guard accused of the crime was on leave at the time and emphasized that no CCTV footage had been deleted. The government has accused the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of disseminating false information on social media to incite unrest.

The protests have turned increasingly violent, with reports of one protester losing his life and over 28 others injured during clashes with police and security personnel. Students have resorted to vandalism and arson, targeting various college campuses. Authorities have filed cases against more than a thousand protesters for their actions during the unrest, which has engulfed Punjab province in chaos as tensions continue to rise.