The Noida college where a spy cam was discovered in a girls’ washroom on Thursday started strengthening security on Friday, with officials scanning hostel rooms for surveillance devices.
JSS Academy of Technical Education has set up two committees – one to probe the incident and the other to suggest improved security measures. The second committee will comprise students, parents, faculty members and one police officer, said college principal T.N. Nagabhushan.
Students of the Sector-62 college held a protest demanding action against the guilty.
A small hidden camera was found by a student inside a girls’ hostel washroom on Thursday morning. According to the Noida Police, the student spotted a red light blinking near a wash basin and spotted the camera. They took it out and discovered that the camera was a recording device and was unable to transmit data. Before handing it over to the police, the students also destroyed the chip inside it.
The police are questioning four suspects in connection with the incident. One of the suspects is a plumber who visited the hostel recently to carry out some repair work. Another suspect had visited the premises to install a water heater. A security guard posted outside the hostel is also being questioned by the police.
Dr. Nagabhushan said the college was returning to normal on Friday. “Students have gone back to classes including the girl who discovered the camera. We want to focus on education and hope the police make sure that the guilty are caught,” said the college principal.
The hostel warden has also been changed and if the committee finds any laxity on her part, there will be action against her, said Dr. Nagabhushan.
He added that the college will be installing CCTV cameras in the hostel lobby. Currently, security cameras are only installed at the college main gate. Men entering the girls’ hostel will be frisked and workers, like the plumber, will be accompanied by a hostel superintendent, said the principal.
“This unsavoury incident has opened everyone’s eyes. Through the committee and the meetings with the students, we will hear from all on how to strengthen security measures,” Dr. Nagabhushan said.
Meanwhile, about a dozen workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad protested outside the college on Friday and demanded action against those involved.
