In a shocking and deeply disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, three Muslim students were caught red-handed recording Hindu girls in the bathroom of a college in Udupi on July 18, 2023. The incident came to light when one of the victim students noticed a hand holding a mobile phone camera over the bathroom door, capturing their private activities.
Filled with fear and distress, the victim immediately reported the matter to the college authorities. The three Muslim students involved in the act were identified as AS, S, and A, who were also good friends and classmates of the victim.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the victim student overheard the culprits conversing in their native Beary language about the video recording, which confirmed their involvement in the heinous act. Due to her close friendship with AS, S, and A, the victim could understand Beary language, which led her to report the incident promptly.
The college management responded by calling the culprits to the office for an inquiry. During the investigation, the culprits admitted that they recorded the video as a “prank,” stating that they sought fun and entertainment within the campus. Shockingly, despite the severity of their actions, the culprits were allowed to leave with their phones, raising doubts about whether a thorough investigation was conducted or whether the video was shared with others.
News of the incident spread like wildfire throughout the college overnight, leading to more victims coming forward with their harrowing experiences. Victim students B, C, and D also reported similar incidents happening to them, further escalating the situation.
Protesting against the college management’s lenient response, the students demanded strict action against the culprits, urging their permanent debarment from the institution. Fueled by the fear of their videos being recorded and shared without their knowledge, all students of the college staged a protest on July 20, 2023, refusing to attend classes.
As tensions escalated, Mr. K, the college admin officer, attempted to pacify the students, but the protestors remained adamant in their demand for justice. Eventually, Mr. K reported the matter to the college trustees, KP and RKP, who arrived at the college accompanied by an advocate to assess the situation.
However, instead of addressing the students’ concerns, the police were called to the campus. The police arrived at 12:30 pm on July 20, 2023, and convinced the protesting students to register a formal complaint by signing a request letter.
Surprisingly, the police denied the students’ request for a duplicate copy of the signed letter, leading to suspicions that the authorities were attempting to suppress the matter.
Following the protests, a closed-door meeting was held with the culprits and their parents, the college trustees, the advocate, the admin, and the principal. During this meeting, the culprits’ mobile phones were seized and handed over to the police, but they were allowed to return home without further action.
On July 21, 2023, victim students and their parents were called for a closed-door meeting with the college trustees, the admin, and the principal. In this meeting, the victims were allegedly threatened and forced to give written assurances that they would not approach the police or register a complaint.
Since then, the college management has enforced strict rules, segregating boys and girls and reducing lunch breaks, but no further action has been taken against the culprits.
Meanwhile, students have alleged that the culprits had a systematic approach to recording videos in coordination with other outside individuals. It is alleged that the culprits exchanged mobile phones with these individuals, who are believed to have shared the recorded videos.
In light of these disturbing revelations and the lack of adequate action from the college and the police, students, victims, and their parents sought help from local MLA @YashpalBJP, requesting his intervention in resolving the issue and ensuring justice for the affected girls.
Furthermore, the victim @RashmiDVS, who actively raised her voice for the victims, allegedly received threatening calls and messages, adding to the fear and distress faced by the victims.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about privacy, campus safety, and the need for an impartial investigation. The community awaits a proper response from the authorities to restore faith in the system and bring the culprits to justice.
