Engineering College Scandal: Hidden Cameras Spark Protests

Students of an engineering college here on Friday complained to Mines Minister K. Ravindra that the college management was trying to cover up the case of hidden cameras allegedly found in the girls’ toilet and also resorted to intimidation against students who filed a complaint in this regard.

Hundreds of students have been protesting at SR Gudlavalleru Engineering College in Krishna district since Thursday evening over the alleged incident.

The students confided their worries to Ravindra, who reached the college along with the revenue collector and the superintendent of police, following the instructions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

“We (students) have no confidence in the college management as they have been trying to hush up the matter (alleged hidden camera issue) for the past three days. The college management has threatened to take action against us if we lodge a complaint in this regard,” the official statement said, quoting the students’ complaint to Ravindra.

Demanding justice at all costs, the students vowed to stay away from classes till then, with the minister stating that the truth would come out and the culprits would be punished.

Meanwhile, the prime minister discussed the matter with district officials and ordered an investigation into allegations of hidden cameras found in a female student’s toilet at the college.

As stated in an official statement, if the crime of recording videos with hidden cameras is proven, then the Prime Minister will order the officers to take decisive action against the perpetrators.

Naidu requested the students that if they had any evidence regarding the incident, they should share it with him.

A case has been registered in connection with the alleged incident.

However, police say no hidden cameras were found in student toilets.

No hidden cameras were found in the girls’ hostel. No evidence was found. The girls need not worry about this issue, an official statement said, adding that the police checked the laptops, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets of the suspects in the presence of students and staff of the college.

Gangadhar Rao, superintendent of police, Krishna district, told PTI that confidence-building measures were being taken and a special team was constituted to investigate the allegations.

In addition to the five-member police investigation team, an inspector was appointed as special investigation officer.

The investigation team has already started investigating the women’s hostel. Ravindra assured the students that stringent security measures will be implemented in the hostel to ensure the safety of the students, which will include deputing one woman police officer for each floor of the building.

Police are investigating whether any of the alleged recordings were in circulation.

In addition, the district police chief said that gadgets belonging to two students were confiscated for inspection.

Earlier, Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh had also ordered an inquiry into the alleged incident.

The incident at SR Gudlavalleru Engineering College came to light on Friday after footage of students protesting late on Thursday night went viral. “I have ordered an inquiry into the allegations of hidden cameras. Strict action will be taken against the culprits and those responsible. I have directed the officials to ensure that such incidents do not repeat in the colleges,” Lokesh said in a post on X.

(Based on information from the agency.)