Although this occurred in Telangana, it serves as a stark warning for Kerala institutions. In January 2025, two men—Nanda Kishore Kumar and Govind Kumar, who worked in the hostel mess—were arrested for filming women in the washrooms. A student reportedly found a phone hidden in a bathroom containing over 300 private videos spanning three months. The incident led to massive protests and the suspension of the hostel warden.
In Kerala, the government has issued guidelines for colleges to ensure student safety, including the installation of CCTV cameras in public areas and the creation of grievance redressal mechanisms. However, the implementation of these guidelines varies across institutions, and more needs to be done to address the issue effectively.
From government universities to private engineering colleges, the state has seen a troubling pattern of privacy violations in educational institutions. According to reports from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and various incidents in Hyderabad and Kozhikode, perpetrators often use small, easily concealable devices—usually mobile phones—placed near ventilation shafts or hidden in dustbins, recording multiple victims over extended periods.
This rating reflects the serious negative impact and concern such content poses to individual privacy, consent, and community well-being. It's a reminder of the need for vigilance and action against such violations.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the hostel, which housed 157 residents, had only one security guard and non-functional CCTV cameras. The surrounding area was also described as forested, making the campus vulnerable to anti-social elements.
If you or someone you know has been affected by such a violation, please contact the Kerala Police Women’s Cell or the Cyber Helpline (1930).
I should check if there's any existing news about hidden cameras in bathrooms in Kerala colleges. If there is a real event, the blog should address privacy issues, legal aspects, and how institutions can prevent such incidents. If it's not a real event, the blog might still discuss privacy concerns in public spaces generally.