Massive protests continued at Gudlavalleru Engineering College in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district on Saturday, a day after students alleged that a hidden camera was installed in the washroom of the girls’ hostel.
A high-level inquiry was initiated into the incident following the intervention of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu.
Speaking to News18, Krishna district Superintendent of Police (SP) Gangadhar Rao said a thorough probe is being conducted but, so far, the police have not recovered any hidden camera from inside the washroom as alleged by the students.
He also said they have seized two laptops and other electronic devices from the accused identified as Vijay Kumar, a student of the same college, who was zeroed in on based on the testimonies of the girls and some WhatsApp chats.
The students had alleged that nearly 300 obscene videos were recorded and circulated by the accused but the police investigation so far hasn’t been able to trace the videos in question. The SP also said the laptops of the accused were checked in front of the protesting girls and their parents but no video was recovered from the devices.
Meanwhile, protesters continued their demonstration, expressing their anger over the investigation.
Sharanya, a student, said: “What has the management been doing since the last one week? When we lodged a complaint once again on Friday, they paid no heed to that… overnight, they are saying this is fake news and threatening to file a case against us instead.”
The protesting girls also said the management was aware of the issue since a week but did not take action until the demonstration began.
Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission chairperson Gajjala Venkatalakshmi has taken suo moto cognisance of the incident and urged the police to take strict action against the accused. She will also visit the campus on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Andhra education minister Nara Lokesh took to social media platform X to assuage the concerns of the students.
“I have asked the authorities for details about the protest of the female students at the Gudlavaleru Engineering College. I have ordered an enquiry into the allegations of hidden camera. Strict action will be taken against the culprits and those responsible if it is found that they have committed a mistake in the investigation. Managements should take early steps without ragging or harassment in colleges,” he said.
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