'Objectionable videos': Fresh protest on Chandigarh University campus; police say accused girl leaked only her own clip

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 18

Amid the raging controversy over alleged objectionable ‘leaked videos’ of some girls of Chandigarh University, the police have said during preliminary investigation it has been found that a woman 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.

In Shimla, the police detained the youth who was allegedly named by the girl student.

Meanwhile, a fresh protest was held on the university campus on Sunday evening by a large number of students, including males, with some of them accusing the university authorities of “suppressing” the incident.

Most of the protesters were dressed in black clothes and raised slogans like "we want justice" in the presence of police.

Earlier, urging people not to pay attention to any rumour, Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Vivek Sheel Soni told reporters that no case of attempted suicide by any woman student has come to notice.

He also said no death took place in connection with the incident.

The university authorities also rejected reports that videos of several women students were made and shared on social media.

Earlier, a massive protest broke out on the campus after it was alleged someone had recorded objectionable videos at a girls’ hostel. Situation went out of control after rumours floated that hostel resident allegedly tried to commit suicide. However, the university management claimed that no girl had attempted suicide and added that rather few girls had 'fainted'.

Protest breaks out in Chandigarh University after someone secretly recorded videos of girls from hostel bathroom and leaked them online. University administration is trying to muzzle the protest, according to a student : @PunYaab

pic.twitter.com/BIi1jTBPCN

— Yogita Bhayana योगिता भयाना (@yogitabhayana) September 17, 2022

As per sources, three residents of the girls’ hostel approached the warden and claimed that one of the residents had been making objectionable videos. "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 hostel residents. We have investigated the matter and no objectionable video was found. Moreover, the hostel residents who are seen protesting in the circulated videos were also informed about the same. There has been no suicide attempt on the campus. Rather some girls had fainted in anticipation of their objectionable videos being circulated on social media. They were given first aid and have been sent back to campus. All the details of the incident have been submitted to the police," said a senior official of the university.

चंडीगढ़ यूनिवर्सिटी में एक लड़की ने कई छात्राओं के आपत्तिजनक वीडियो रिकॉर्ड करके Viral किए हैं। ये बेहद संगीन और शर्मनाक है। इसमें शामिल सभी दोषियों को कड़ी से कड़ी सजा मिलेगी। पीड़ित बेटियाँ हिम्मत रखें। हम सब आपके साथ हैं। सभी संयम से काम लें।

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 18, 2022

The #ChandigarhUniversity case is most shameful. Punjab Government will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. I appeal to everyone to maintain calm. We all are with you and justice will be done.

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) September 18, 2022

Earlier, Mohali SSP Vivek Soni said, "So far, no objectionable videos of other girls have been found with the accused. We are setting up a centre here and any student having any evidence or query can approach the centre. The matter is being thoroughly investigated."

DGP Gaurav Yadav said no death had been reported from Chandigarh University. "One girl accused of making a video has been detained. An FIR has also been lodged. All steps are being taken to prevent circulation of any objectionable video. I request everyone not to circulate videos or spread rumours."

"A protest broke out last night and the students have been given all the explanation. We are getting it crosschecked with the help of police," said Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University.

Punjab Higher Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has assured justice to the CU students. He said the Mohali DC and the SSP would conduct a thorough probe and no one would be spared.

1/2 ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਯੂਨਿਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਵਿਚ ਵਾਪਰੀ ਮੰਦਭਾਗੀ ਘਟਨਾ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਾਣ ਕੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਦੁੱਖ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੰਵੇਦਨਸ਼ੀਲ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਿਸ਼ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਣ-ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣਿਤ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਗੇ ਭੇਜਣ ਤੋਂ ਗੁਰੇਜ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ। ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥਣ ਦੀ ਖ਼ੁਦਕੁਸ਼ੀ ਦੀ ਕੋਈ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।

— Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (@meet_hayer) September 18, 2022

2/2 ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਦੇ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਖਾਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਲੜਕੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਨਸਾਫ਼ ਦਾ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਦਿਵਾਉਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਮੁਹਾਲੀ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਅਤੇ ਐਸ.ਐਸ.ਪੀ. ਨੂੰ ਸਮੁੱਚੇ ਘਟਨਾਕ੍ਰਮ ਦੀ ਡੂੰਘਾਈ ਨਾਲ ਜਾਂਚ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਆਦੇਸ਼ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋਸ਼ੀ ਪਾਏ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਿਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।

— Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (@meet_hayer) September 18, 2022

Instructions have been issued to the DC and the SSP to conduct the probe expeditiously, he said.

I humbly request all the students of Chandigarh University to remain calm, no one guilty will be spared.

It’s a very sensitive matter & relates to dignity of our sisters & daughters.

We all including media should be very very cautious,it is also test of ours now as a society.

— Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) September 18, 2022

The Chandigarh University incident is sickening. The perpetrators of this crime should be dealt with strongly and given exemplary punishment. We as a society should report anyone who forwards the videos and stand with our sisters in this tough time.

— Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) September 18, 2022

Meanwhile, many Chandigarh University hostel residents protested and raised slogans against the varsity management for mishandling the situation, in the wee hours of Saturday night. In various videos, the residents are seen demanding justice and abusing the security personnel on the campus. The protesters can be seen opening the hostel gates and trying to run outside the campus.

"The protest took an ugly turn when the warden and other officials kept on pressurising other students for filing a false complaint against the alleged accused. They should have investigated the matter first, instead of blaming the student. And if the video was made purposely, why did they circulate it on social media?" asked one of the hostel residents.

On Sunday morning, heavy police force was deployed outside the campus to avoid any untoward situation.

A forensic team led by Dr Ashwani Kalia has also reached Chandigarh University to check mobile phones and collect evidence.

The incident is likely to cause political uproar considering Chandigarh University Chancellor Sandhu's proximity to BJP's Central leadership.

Meanwhile, in an official statement issued on Sunday, Dr. R. S. Bawa, Pro-Chancellor, Chandigarh University, said, “There are rumours that seven girls have committed suicide, whereas the fact is that no girl has taken any such step. No girl has been admitted to hospital in the incident."

“There is another rumour which is circulating on social media that 60 objectionable MMSes have 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,” the Pro-Chancellor said.

"All the rumours of objectionable videos shot of other girl students are totally false and baseless. On the request received from the students, Chandigarh University has itself volunteered the further investigation to the Punjab Police Department which has taken one girl into custody and has filed an FIR under the IT Act.”

All the mobile phones and other material have been handed over to the police for further investigation and Chandigarh University is fully co-operating with police in the investigation.”

“It is further clarified that the university is fully committed and competent to ensure safety and security of all our students, especially our daughter-like girl students,” Pro-Chancellor said. (With PTI inputs)

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