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Chandigarh University MMS scandal: Youth detained in Shimla as protests continue

A girl student has already been arrested

Students protesting on the Chandigarh University campus | PTI Students protesting on the Chandigarh University campus | PTI

Shimla Police on Sunday detained a 23-year-old man in connection with the allegation that the objectionable videos of several girl students staying in a Chandigarh University hostel have been leaked and shared on internet. He is expected to be handed over to the Punjab Police who had already arrested a girl student in the case.

The accused, identified as Sunny Mehta, was nabbed by a team led by Dr Monika, Superintendent of Police, Shimla.

Massive protests had erupted on the university campus in Mohali on Saturday night after some girl students alleged that one of their hostel mates filmed them taking bath and shared it on internet. Rumours flew thick and fast that several such videos have gone viral on social platforms, sparking outrage in the state.

Police and the university authorities, however, rejected the rumours as "false and baseless". They also trashed reports that some students had attempted suicide after the episode.

Police said a woman student appeared to have shared a video of herself with the youth and no objectionable video of any other student was found. “During preliminary investigation, it has come to light 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,” Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Vivek Sheel Soni said.

The university in a statement said no suicide attempt was made by any of the students. "There are rumours that seven girls have committed suicide whereas the fact is that no girl has attempted any such step. No girl has been admitted to the hospital in the incident,” Pro-Chancellor R.S. Bawa said.

“During the preliminary investigation conducted by the University, there have been no videos found of any student which are objectionable except a personal video shot by a girl which was shared by herself her boyfriend,” he further said, adding that the university is fully cooperating with the police in the investigation.

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,reported PTI.

Police said the arrested student's mobile phone has been seized for forensic analysis. An FIR under IPC section 354-C (voyeurism) and the IT Act has been registered in the matter and further probe is on, they added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and said strict action will be taken against those found guilty. He appealed to people not to believe rumours.

“Sad to hear about the unfortunate incident at Chandigarh University...our daughters are our honour...a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident...severe action will be taken against whoever is found guilty,” Mann said in a tweet.

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