Andhra Pradesh: Hidden Cameras Found in Girls' Hostel Washroom
Hidden cameras were discovered in the women's hostel of an Andhra Pradesh college, leading to a massive protest and the arrest of a student.
Crime and disrespect against women seem to be increasing in India, and the latest shocking incident took place at Seshadri Rao Gudlavalleru Engineering College (GEC) in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. On 29th August 2024, hidden cameras were discovered in the women’s hostel toilet, causing panic and fear among the female students.
The incident came to light when a group of female students found the hidden cameras around 7 pm. The cameras were allegedly recording the students while they were showering, changing clothes, and using the washroom. Even more disturbing, the recordings were reportedly sold to male students of the same college and uploaded online.
As soon as the news spread, it sparked a massive protest. Hundreds of outraged students gathered, chanting “We want justice” and demanding answers from the college management. The students claimed that the management tried to cover up the incident and even threatened to expel them if they complained.
The Andhra Pradesh police arrived at the scene, but the protest continued until 3:30 in the morning. Although the police did not find the cameras during their search, they registered a case after 8 students and 1 staff member filed an FIR.
A senior B-Tech final-year student, Vijay Kumar, was arrested from the boys’ hostel in connection with the incident. The police confiscated his laptop and are conducting further investigations. Despite initial statements from the hostel and police denying the existence of the cameras, the hostel warden confirmed that cameras were indeed present in the alleged washroom.
The police have discovered over 300 photos and videos of female students online, indicating that many students had purchased these recordings from Vijay. A special investigation team of 5 members has been formed to delve deeper into the case. They are investigating whether more students were involved in setting up the cameras and distributing the videos.
The incident has left hundreds of female students deeply disturbed, with some avoiding the area altogether out of fear. In response, the special investigation team has implemented tight security measures in the hostel, including assigning one woman constable per floor to ensure the safety of the students.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and promised strict punishment for those responsible.
Hidden cameras are a growing concern in crimes against women. To help people protect themselves, ISH has released a video on how to detect hidden cameras. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JHGpNG24xE
