NEW DELHI, Aug 30: An engineering college in Andhra Pradesh was shaken when some students allegedly found a hidden camera in the women’s toilet. This led to massive protests, which saw not just students but also faculty members demanding a swift probe.
Students of Seshadri Rao Gudlavalleru Engineering College (GEC) staged a protest in front of the college alleging that some miscreants installed spy cameras in the toilets in the girls’ hostel. The students allege that a camera was seen in the toilet. With the news spreading in the institute, thousands of students came out and staged a dharna on Thursday night. Students boycotted classes and continued protests till Friday noon demanding action against the guilty. The management tried in vain to control the protestors.
But while chants of “we want justice” still ring outside the hostel of the College, police said they haven’t found a camera or any leaked videos. “We found no cameras hidden in the girl’s hostel during our probe. We searched the suspected student laptops, mobile phones, and other devices in front of the students and college staff. No videos were found. Girl Students need not worry,” Krishna District SP Gangadhar Rao said. The official’s statement came hours after a senior student was arrested from the boy’s hostel in connection with the incident.
Expressing anger over the police’s statements, the protesters have said that they are just seeking justice but the college management and cops were trying to discredit them. “They didn’t care when I told them about the hidden camera,” said a protesting student claiming that she had informed the college management about the hidden camera a week ago, but they did not take any action.
“When I complained again yesterday around 5 pm, they said they needed a month for investigation. Then, overnight, they spread rumours calling it fake news. They asked me to call my father. What have we done wrong? Is it a crime to seek justice?” the student asked. The college’s faculty association has also expressed surprise over the police’s findings. Students of the college have claimed that the camera had been installed by a senior with the help of a female student. Protesters claim that several of the videos recorded on the hidden camera were being sold by the accused.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered an enquiry over allegations and directed State Mines Minister K Ravindra, Krishna District collector and superintendent of police to visit the college for an on the spot study of the situation. Parents who rushed to the college demanded a thorough investigation into the incident of hidden camera in girls’ hostel in the college.
The Eluru Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) G. V. G. Ashok Kumar said the Gudlavalleru police registered a case, and were searching the college premises. “Instructions have been given to the police to search the college hostel and other vulnerable locations with bomb detection teams,” Mr Ashok Kumar said.
Krishna district Superintendent of Police, R. Gangadhar Rao said police searched the mobile phones, laptops and other devices of the suspects. “We have not seized any spy cameras in Gudlavalleru Engineering College till noon. A detailed probe is on,” said Mr Gangadhar who visited the institute. Police picked up a few seniors, who were suspects in the case and are questioning them.
(Manas Dasgupta)