Coimbatore City Police will hold meetings with faculty and student representatives of colleges on forming campus committees to combat drug peddling and protect girls from sexual harassment.
While students from city colleges were arrested in various cases of drug peddling, especially ganja, the City Police have also registered at least 10 cases in the last six months wherein girl students were allegedly harassed, blackmailed or sexually abused.
Meeting
Deputy Commissioner of Police (law and order), L. Balaji Saravanan, said that the meeting, which would be held this week, which will have representatives from the management, faculty, National Service Scheme and the National Cadets Corps.
“The police will seek the cooperation of the students and college authorities to prevent peddling of drugs such as ganja within and outside the campus. Another objective of the meeting is to end harassment and blackmailing of girl students, which are less reported to the police.
The police will extend all support to put an end to these menace that destroy the future of students,” said the official.
From the ten cases received this year, the police found that girl students were harassed, abused and blackmailed by men – often by their friends and lovers - using photos of intimate relationship.
“Our aim is to bring such incidents to the attention of the police and nip such trends in the bud. Those found involved in such activities will be booked under Section 66E of The Information Technology Act, 2000 and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The police will display Section 66E of The Information Technology Act, 2000, in all colleges,” said Mr. Saravanan.
Section 66E of the Information Technology Act deals with punishment for violation of privacy (Whoever, intentionally or knowingly captures, publishes or transmits the image of a private area of any person without his or her consent, under circumstances violating the privacy of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine not exceeding ₹2 lakh, or with both).
