Store owners inside Lovely Professional University’s Uni Mall are reeling from heavy losses after violent protests swept through the campus on Sunday night. Triggered by unverified allegations of a sexual assault on campus, the unrest left shops vandalised, shelves emptied, and infrastructure damaged.
Shopkeepers reported stolen goods worth lakhs, including electronics, footwear, and clothing, as students broke into stores between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. before marching toward the Jalandhar‑Phagwara National Highway. Many owners said they had no connection to the grievances against the university administration but became collateral victims of the chaos.
The university has denied the assault allegations, calling them “baseless” and “fabricated.” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered strict action against those responsible for vandalism and arson.
Uni Mall operates as a commercial space leased to private businesses, not university‑owned shops. Several shopkeepers told reporters they are still assessing damages, collecting purchase bills, and preparing to file formal complaints with the police. For many, the violence has raised urgent questions of accountability: “Who will pay for our losses?”
The incident underscores the vulnerability of small businesses during campus unrest and highlights the need for stronger security measures to protect livelihoods alongside student safety.
