Protests in Chandigarh University campus after objectionable videos of girls shared on social media
CHANDIGARH, SEPT 18: Massive protests broke out on the campus of a private university (Chandigarh University) after `Rumours’ that objectionable videos of the girl students were recorded. The Punjab Police has registered a case and a girl has been arrested in this connection. The university management and the district administration rejected reports that videos of several girls were made and shared on social media.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
The protest took place past midnight at Chandigarh University campus located at Ludhiana-Chandigarh road which lasted till early morning.
Sources said that three girls living in the girl hostel approached the warden and claimed that one of the girl student’s had been making objectionable videos. The students alleged that a girl student made videos of girl students while taking a bath in the hostel and later she send them to a boy in Shimla who uploaded those videos on social media as some 60 such videos were leaked.
The protesting students also claimed that after the videos went viral, girl students living in the hostel attempted suicide. “The video of the warden, which is being circulated on the social media has been made purposely. The warden was crosschecking the allegations made by the three students living in the hostel,’’ said an official.
The management of the university, district administration and Punjab Police however rejected reports that videos of several women students were made and shared on social media. But later it came out that the accused girl had shared her own video. Also a few girls students fainted due to panic attack and they were given first aid, also there was no suicide attempt by anyone.
Senior Superintendent of Police of SAS Nagar Vivek Sheel Soni said that during the preliminary investigation it has come out that a girl student, who had been apprehended had shared her own video with someone stated to be from Himachal Pradesh whose role is also under the scanner.
Soni said that a case under section 354-C of IPC (voyeurism) and the IT Act has been registered. “Our forensic teams has collected the evidence. So far in our preliminary investigation, it has come out that there is only one video of the accused girl and she has not recorded any other video of anyone else. Electronic devices and mobile phones have been taken into custody and will be sent for forensic examination,’’ he said.
Soni said, “No one tried to commit suicide these were all rumours. One student who was taken in an ambulance was suffering from anxiety and our team is in contact with her.’’
Dr. R.S.Bawa, Pro-Chancellor of Chandigarh University said, “There are rumors that seven girls have committed suicide whereas the fact is that no girl has attempted any such step. No girl has been admitted to hospital in the incident. There is another rumor which circulating through media that 60 objectionable MMS has been found of different students. This is totally false and baseless. During the preliminary investigation conducted by the university there has been no videos found of any student which are objectionable except a personal video shot
by a girl which was shared by herself to her boyfriend. All the rumors of objectionable videos shot of other girl students are totally false and baseless. On the request received by the students Chandigarh University has itself volunteered the further investigation to the Punjab Police.’’
Punjab State Women Commission took cognisance over the matter. “This is a serious matter, an investigation is going on and I want to assure the parents that the accused will not be spared,’’ said Manisha Gulati, Chairperson of Punjab State Women Commission.
Describing the incident at Chandigarh University as unfortunate, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered high level probe into the matter. Mann said that he is peeved to learn about the entire matter and has asked the district administration to undertake in-depth enquiry about the incident. He
categorically said that anyone found guilty will not be spared and severest of severe action will be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Mann also warned that strict action will also be taken against those who are spreading canards regarding this sensitive issue. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal condemned the incident.
He twitted, “A girl recorded objectionable videos of many girl students in Chandigarh University and made them viral. This is very serious and shameful. All the culprits involved in this will get the harshest punishment. Victim girls have courage. We all are with you. Act with patience.’’
-The New Indian Express
