The situation remains tense at the SR Gudlavalleru Engineering College in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, where an alleged case of voyeurism involving a hidden camera found in the toilet of the student hostel has spread like wildfire.
Several videos were reportedly recorded using a hidden camera and allegedly circulated among the students residing in the boys hostel, triggering massive protests by the residents of the girls hostel demanding immediate action against the perpetrators responsible for the disturbing incident.
Surprisingly, charges were also brought against a final-year engineering student, who was accused of placing the hidden camera in the bathroom.
Krishna district police arrested a final year B Tech student and seized his laptop and cell phones. The student was reportedly selling the videos recorded with the hidden camera.
Hidden camera: a tool for voyeurism?
In simpler terms, voyeurism refers to the act of secretly observing people inside a private facility (bathroom, courtroom, etc.) with indecent intentions. These incidents are not new and have repeatedly made headlines; the most talked about incident dates back to 2015. The then Union Minister of Human Resources Iranians killed had filed a complaint after noticing a camera inside the fitting room of a clothing store in Goa.
The former minister had filed complaints under sections 509 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 354C (voyeurism) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
In August 2024A woman from Bengaluru filed a complaint complaint After a hidden camera was found installed in a coffee shop’s bathroom, it was discovered that an employee had been filming people in the bathroom via a smartphone. The coffee shop in question then issued a notice stating that it had fired the employee and had taken legal action against him.
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Another dated report May 2024The police revealed that a woman in Ghaziabad filed a complaint against a temple priest after finding a CCTV camera pointing towards a roofless room where women change clothes. According to police, the CCTV screen was linked to the priest’s smartphone. A complaint has been filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, police said.
If that were not all, in March 2024An employee of the Taj Hotel in Chandigarh was arrested for filming in secret A hotel guest while taking a shower in her room. According to police, the accused had entered the guest’s room using a master key.
Andhra Pradesh College incident: No camera found in preliminary investigation
Meanwhile, Krishna district superintendent of police R Gangadhar Rao rushed to the spot and conducted a preliminary investigation, and reported that the police had not found any hidden camera in the girls’ hostel when they searched it.
CM Naidu orders an inquiry
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday ordered an inquiry and directed district minister Kollu Ravindra and the SP to speak to the students to ascertain the facts.
Education Minister Nara Lokesh also referred to X and warned that stern action will be taken against the culprits and those responsible if found guilty during the investigation. He also urged the education authorities to take early steps to prevent bullying and harassment in colleges.
With the latest incident reported at Andhra Pradesh University, it is felt that not only educational institutions but all organizations including workplaces must incorporate strict measures to prevent the heinous act of voyeurism and protect the integrity of individuals at all costs.
(With inputs from Srinivasa Rao Apparasu in Hyderabad)
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