Four students behind on-campus CCTV camera removal remanded until March 3
Cameras removed as ragging of new students could be recorded.
Four students, including a student monk, from Kelaniya University were ordered to be remanded until March 3 by the Mahara Magistrate on Friday over the removal of CCTV cameras worth Rs 2.6 million installed at the university premises.
The initial arrest of 16 students involved in the incident was made after the CCTV cameras captured video clips of them removing the cameras.
Four students who were directly involved were remanded while others were released on bail later, the Police said.
The students were arrested under the Public Property Act for removal of state owned camera equipment, they added.
Meanwhile, a total of 27 university students will face a two year suspension after being found guilty for removing CCTV cameras. University administration said the total value of the cameras removed is believed to be about Rs 2.6 million, and the ripping off of cables by students had caused irreparable damages.
“The university has not even made the total payments for the CCTV cameras. Only partial payments have been made,” a senior university official said.
He said the CCTV camera were removed because the students were afraid the ragging of new students would be caught on camera. The new students will enroll on March 9 for the new academic year.
However, swift measures to re-install the CCTV cameras will be taken, the official said.
Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said instructions have been given to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to refrain from getting involved in legal action, as this case comes under the violation of Public Property Act.
“They might be university students, but this has been an act of vandalising public property. The installation of CCTV cameras was not to curb student activities but a general measure to ensure national security after the Easter Sunday attacks,” the Minister said.
He said all universities had been instructed to install CCTV cameras, under Government assistance, to ensure student and public safety.
He said strict legal actions will be taken against students involved in committing such crimes.
Meanwhile, Kelaniya university administration said the Dalugama premises will be completely prohibited for students, after the 2019/2020 academic year was completed at 8.00 a.m. on Saturday, February 29.
All students in hostels were instructed to leave their respective rooms before 8.00 a.m. All weekend post-graduate courses, diploma and certificate courses and examinations will be on hold until further notice.
Photos of students removing and discarding CCTV cameras installed by university administration went viral on social media this week.
-NF/DW