Chandigarh University video row stir ends after students’ demands heeded: Top 10
Chandigarh University row: The police in two states – Punjab and Himachal Pradesh – got involved in the matter.
For the second straight night, the Chandigarh University saw protests over the video row, which has grabbed wide attention and has got police in two states involved. But the students ended their stir late at night after getting assurances. Three demands of the students that have been heeded are:
a 10-member committee of students will be given updates in the case, the warden of the hostel – where the incident happened – would be suspended, and a checking of the girls’ hostel would be done. The varsity has also assured that they would replace the mobile phones of students, broken during the demonstrations, and doors in the girls hostel washrooms would be replaced.
Here are the latest updates on the Chandigarh University video row
1. The stir ended at 1.30 am on Monday after the assurances from the concerned authorities at the Chandigarh University. The university will remain closed till September 24. Deputy Commissioner of Mohali, Amit Talwar, had ordered a magisterial probe and also constituted a Special Investigation Team in the matter.
2. Three people – a girl student of the varsity and two men – have been held so far in the matter amid huge public anger. The stir began at around 2:30 am on Sunday after it was alleged that objectionable videos of several girls were leaked. Later, cops and the university clarified that only one video by the girl student, who is the key accused in the case, was sent to a man in Shimla.
3. A third accused was held on Sunday night in the case – a 31-year-old man from Shimla. This was after a 22-year-old girl student and her 23-year-old friend – at the heart of the controversy – were held.
4. The varsity turned into a fortress on Sunday amid heightened security to control the situation. Demonstrations were reported on the Ludhiana Highway too early on Sunday morning.
5. Senior cops on Sunday night held discussions with students amid attempts to give reassurance. “The police had a chat today with students. They are satisfied now… First-year students have taken their own stand to not come in front of the media as they are freshers, just completed Class 12th,” Arvinder Kang, director, student Welfare of the Chandigarh University, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
6. “The issue has been a communication gap. We have been clarifying again and again. We are ensuring students that law is being followed, all legal procedures are being undertaken,” GS Bhullar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, told reporters.
7. Initial inputs had suggested that videos of 60 girl students were allegedly shared by the accused with her friend in Himachal Pradesh. Later, the police and the university made it clear that the accused had shared only her video with her friend.
8. There were also rumours that suicide bids by girl students were reported. However, the university has said it has not seen any such incidents.
9. Amid demonstrations, a couple of girls had fainted and were taken to a local civil hospital, from where they were discharged after a couple of hours, officials said.
10. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday had ordered a high-level probe in the matter, condemning the incident. Many opposition leaders too had shared strong opinions. Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur said his state’s police were giving all cooperation needed in the case.