RAWALPINDI: Police in Rawalpindi have arrested more than 380 students following a large-scale protest sparked by allegations of the rape of a female college student in Lahore. Authorities have also filed cases against over 1,500 unidentified individuals in connection with the protests, spread across eight different cases.
The student-led demonstrations, which took place in Rawalpindi, were in response to the alleged assault and saw protesters defying Section 144, damaging property, and clashing with law enforcement. According to the police, the protesters set fires, hurled stones at police vehicles, and caused extensive damage to public and private property.
FIRs registered against the protestors accuse them of injuring police officers, inciting terror, and forcibly entering a hostel where they caused further destruction. Tear gas was used by the police to disperse the crowd, and teachers and staff trapped inside the building were safely evacuated.
Cases have been registered at several police stations, including Airport, Gujjar Khan, Saddar (Wah), Morgah, and Naseerabad. To manage the unrest, authorities have partially blocked the road from Murree to Faizabad using containers.
These protests follow a wave of demonstrations across the province, fueled by social media reports of the alleged rape, which have triggered unrest in multiple cities. In Lahore, violent protests earlier in the week resulted in injuries to over two dozen people, including four police officers.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz addressed the situation on Wednesday, announcing a crackdown on those spreading false information about the incident. Officials claim that no victim has come forward and blame misinformation for the unrest.
In response to the escalating situation, the provincial government has ordered the closure of all educational institutions on Friday, impacting approximately 26 million students, including adult learners. The provincial interior department has also imposed a ban on gatherings on both Friday and Saturday.
