Hidden camera in Andhra college girls toilet; students protest, CM orders probe

Student protests erupted in an engineering college in Andhra Pradesh on Friday (August 30) after a hidden camera was discovered in a women’s washroom in a hostel, leading to the arrest of a male student.

Angry students gathered on SR Gudlavalleru Engineering College campus in Krishna district and shouted slogans on Thursday night, police officers said. The noisy protests continued also on Friday. Many others in the area also joined the demonstration as the word spread.

Case registered

The camera had been secretly recording videos of the students, which were later leaked and reportedly sold to some students, media reports quoted unnamed officials as saying.

Police registered a case over the incident but noted that there were no such hidden cameras in the girls' students' washroom.

"No hidden cameras were found in the girls' hostel. No evidence of the allegations was found. There is no need for the girls to worry over this issue," said an official statement, adding that police checked the laptops, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets of the suspects in the presence of students and college staff.

CM orders probe

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday ordered an inquiry into the incident.

"Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered an inquiry on girl students protesting over hidden cameras in their hostel at Gudlavalleru Engineering College in Krishna district," said an official release.

The CM also directed State Mines Minister K Ravindra, Krishna District collector and superintendent of police to visit the college.

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

"I have ordered an inquiry on hidden cameras allegations. Stringent action will be taken against the culprits and people responsible. I directed officials to ensure that these kinds of incidents do not recur in colleges," said Lokesh in a post on 'X'.

Over 300 photos, videos leaked

A female student stumbled upon the camera in the washroom on Thursday, setting off angry reactions as students began protesting so as to express their disgust and distress. “We want justice,” shouted the students.

The police arrested a senior student from the boys' hostel, Vijay Kumar, for allegedly planting the camera. His laptop has been seized.

Some reports say that more than 300 photos and videos were leaked from the women's hostel washroom. Vijay had reportedly sold the videos to some students.

College assures strict action

A police officer said it was being investigated if more students were involved in setting up the camera and distributing the videos.

College authorities assured the protesting students that strict action would be taken against the guilty.

A former police officer, VV Lakshmi Narayanan, demanded “urgent and strict action”.

“The … incident … is highly deplorable and a severe breach of privacy. Such incidents demand urgent and strict action,” he wrote on X.

“Additionally, like the legislation in Uttar Pradesh, there is a need for new laws to regulate social media and digital platforms, ensuring that such violations are prevented and swiftly punished,” he said.