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In Udupi, Karnataka, a distressing incident occurred at a prominent medical institute where a female student was subjected to secret filming inside the women's washroom by her fellow students. In response to this disturbing act, the college authorities took decisive action and suspended three female students who were allegedly responsible for placing hidden cameras in the women's washroom.
According to reports, Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz, and Aliya are alleged to have placed mobile phone cameras inside the women's washrooms with the intent to film other girls while they were using the toilets or taking showers.
The police have invoked sections 509, 204, 175, 34, and 66 (e) of the IT Act in the FIR. The police have registered two separate suo motu cases in connection with the video recording at Netra Jyothi Institute of Allied Health Sciences.
The students at the institute, who have demanded strict action against the accused for violating their privacy, are in an uproar due to this disturbing incident. Consequently, the college management suspended the three accused students after finding evidence that they used mobile phones to film another student in the washroom.
The news of this incident quickly spread on social media, and some users have drawn parallels with the infamous 1992 Ajmer sex scandal. This earlier scandal involved allegations that hundreds of school and college girls were gang-raped by men from the minority community. The perpetrators purportedly blackmailed the victims with nude photos to carry out their heinous acts.
Political uproar over alleged recording
Someone allegedly uploaded a morphed version of the video on the One India Kannada YouTube channel, and an individual named Kalu Singh Chawhan shared it on Twitter. Consequently, authorities have registered a case against them for causing communal enmity and disrupting social harmony.
The BJP has announced a state-wide protest demanding the arrest of the three Muslim students allegedly responsible for recording the video of a Hindu girl, sparking political attention. Prior to this, the police had urged the public not to believe rumours that girls from a particular community had targeted a girl from another community and shared a video of her allegedly shot in the restroom.
Meanwhile, the media has reported that the police have also registered another case for spreading false propaganda through social media. A case has also been registered against one Kalu Singh Chauhan for posting a falsely misleading video that is related to the incident at Udupi College.
On July 18, a nursing college student in Udupi filed a complaint against her classmates to the college authorities. The FIR says that the shooting took place between 2.30 and 3 pm. The FIR stated that a police sub-inspector was sent to the college on July 20 following protests over the issue. Following this, all three girls were suspended from the college.
NCW dismisses rumours over hidden cameras
Khushbu Sundar, a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), refuted the rumors of hidden cameras in the college restroom. The incident, which occurred on July 18 at a paramedical college in Udupi, led to the suspension of three students who were allegedly involved in filming others using a hidden camera in the girls' washroom.
In response to media inquiries, Sundar denied the presence of hidden cameras in the toilet, stating that if there are any rumours, they are false. She emphasized that there is no evidence to support such claims and mentioned the circulation of fake videos. Sundar pointed out that due to being an educational institution, it is impossible for any hidden cameras to exist.
Regarding accusations made by opposition parties in the state, Sundar emphasized the importance of relying on evidence rather than mere allegations. The NCW will not take up the case until they have examined all relevant information and reached a conclusion.
Khushbu Sundar visited the coastal city of Udupi and the college where the alleged video was shot. During her visit, she interacted with college management and other individuals involved in the issue.
Notably, the Udupi police urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation and baseless facts about the video incident, calling for responsible handling of the situation. As the investigation continues, it remains essential to await verified information and evidence before drawing conclusions.
Reaction
On Thursday, BJP workers near Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara's residence in Bengaluru staged a demonstration, alleging that the Congress government was supporting "terrorists". The women's wing of the BJP also staged a sit-in demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged demonstrations against the government in Udupi.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar slammed the state government. “Congress government’s inability to deliver the guarantees announced during the elections, has led Siddaramaiah to play appeasement politics in the state.”
The BJP was charged by Lakshmi Hebbalkar, a minister responsible for women’s and children’s welfare and the Udupi district, with attempting to racially and politically distort the situation.
“The police have registered an FIR in connection with the case. I have instructed the SP to initiate action as per the provisions of the law. Strict action will be taken against the accused. There is no need to politicise the incident and the interest of the students is paramount. No one is above the law,” Hebbalkar added.
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