'Group of girls playing prank': University on viral video of girl carted around hostel in suitcase

CHANDIGARH: A day after a viral video showed a girl emerging out of a suitcase being carted around on a hostel campus, the private university concerned in Haryana has said it was just a "prank" being played "within the girls' hostel" by some students.

The Sonipat-based university, however, said they have taken the matter seriously and showcaused the students involved, asking them to appear before the disciplinary committee. Safety and security of students are paramount, a university spokesperson said on Sunday, asserting "we have taken effective and immediate action in this matter".

A video clip from the O P Jindal Global University hostel on Friday showed two female security personnel opening the suitcase and the girl coming out if it. The spooky video was shared widely on social media.

With the clip generating all sorts of social media chatter and theories, university's Chief Communications Officer Anjoo Mohun issued a statement on Sunday, saying it just showed a group of girls playing a prank on their friend within their hostel.

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They were carting her around in a suitcase and took her outside to the grounds and upstairs, she said. They moved to a public area inside the girls hostel common corridor which is under the CCTV coverage which is when the security guards noticed suspicious activity around the suitcase, she added.

The university has taken effective and immediate action in the incident, she said. "This incident involved a group of students playing a prank within the girls' hostel, which unfortunately escalated to a public area where security intervened."

"All students involved have been issued showcause notices and will face the disciplinary committee. As India's leading institution, O P Jindal Global University takes student security very seriously," Mohun said.