NCW takes cognisance of 'leaked videos' of Chandigarh University students

Students of the Chandigarh University protest on the campus after private videos of several women students were posted on social media, in Mohali. Pic/PTI

The National Commission for Women has sought an FIR in connection with alleged suicide attempts by students of a private university in Punjab's Mohali after their 'videos' were 'leaked'.

The Commission said it has come across multiple media reports and Twitter posts alleging that videos of girls living in a hostel of Chandigarh University have been leaked and some of them tried to end their lives.

Protests erupted on the campus of the university over "rumours" that some objectionable videos of several women students were recorded. Students also claimed that the administration was trying to cover up the cases of suicides.

Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Vivek Sheel Soni, however, told reporters that it has been found during preliminary investigation 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.

Urging people not to pay attention to any rumour, Soni said no case of attempted suicide by any woman student has come to notice. He also said no death took place in connection with the incident.

Also read: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann orders probe into Chandigarh University incident

The university authorities also rejected reports that videos of several women students were made and shared on social media.

In a statement, the National Commission for Women (NCW) said chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to the Director General of Police, Punjab to immediately file an FIR against the culprits and to deal with the matter strictly and without any laxity.

The victims must be given proper counselling and their safety and security must be ensured, the NCW said.

The women rights body has also written to Vice Chancellor, Chandigarh University to take stringent action against the culprits in accordance with law and that the university must investigate the matter extensively and in a fair manner.

The Commission has also urged the chairperson of Punjab State Commission for Women to immediately inquire into the facts of the case and ensure that the police is conducting a fair investigation in the matter without any influence.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday ordered a probe into the matter following the protests that took place past midnight in the Chandigarh University campus located on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road.