Massive protests were held by Chandigarh University students in Mohali on Saturday night and Sunday after alleged ‘leaked objectionable videos’ of women students went viral. Protesting students alleged that a student made videos of as many as 60 girl students while they were taking a bath in the hostel.
The video was later made viral on social media. The protesting students also claimed that after the videos went viral, girl students living in the hostel attempted suicide. However, police refuted the suicide attempts claim. Police have arrested one student in the matter.
Punjab Police arrested three persons-the accused girl student and two other boys-who allegedly helped the girl to make the video viral. The two boys, named Rankaj Verma (31) and Sunny Mehta (23), were arrested from Himachal Pradesh. Earlier, Punjab Police had arrested the girl who made the video. The girl is also a resident of Himachal Pradesh.
Amid the row, Punjab government ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter.
“It is a matter of videos being shot by a girl student and later circulated. FIR was registered in the matter and the accused student was arrested. No death reported related to this incident. As per medical records, no attempt (to commit suicide) was reported,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohali Vivek Soni on Chandigarh University row.
“Forensic evidence is being collected. So far in our investigation, we have found out that there is only one video of the accused herself. 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. Apart from the video of one student, no other video has come to our notice,” he added.
In an official statement, however, R.S. Bawa, Pro-Chancellor, Chandigarh University refuted the charges. He said, “There are rumours that seven girls have committed suicide whereas the fact is that no girl has attempted any such step. No girl has been admitted to the hospital in the incident.”
Bawa further said, “There is another rumour that 60 objectionable MMS have been found of different students. This is totally false and baseless. All the rumours of objectionable videos shot of other girl students are totally false and baseless. During the preliminary investigation conducted by the University, there have been no videos found of any student which are objectionable except a personal video shot by a girl which was shared by herself her boyfriend.”
As Punjab government ordered a probe into the matter, Chief Minister Bhatwant Mann said that daughters are our dignity and pride adding that any such incident is highly condemnable. He is peeved to learn about the entire matter and has asked the
district administration to undertake an in-depth inquiry about the incident. He categorically said that anyone found guilty will not be spared and severest severe action will be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has appealed to Chandigarh University students to remain calm and assured them that the guilty will not be spared.
“I humbly request all the students of Chandigarh University to remain calm. No one guilty will be spared. It is a very sensitive matter and relates to the dignity of our sisters and daughters,” said the Minister in a Twitter post.
Punjab State Women Commission took cognisance over the matter.
“This is a serious matter. An investigation is underway. I am here to assure parents of all students that the accused will not be spared,” said Manisha Gulati, Chairperson, Punjab State Women Commission.