Punalur, Kollam: Kerala Police have registered a case against a 22-year-old student of a government polytechnic college here for allegedly morphing photographs of female classmates and teachers into obscene images and uploading them to pornographic websites. The college subsequently suspended the student.

The accused, S Achyuth, is a fifth-semester Electrical and Electronics Engineering student at the Government Polytechnic College in Nellippally, Punalur.

The incident came to light on Tuesday when fellow students accidentally found obscene images of female students on his phone. They reportedly seized the device and handed it over to the college authorities. Female students subsequently lodged complaints.

According to college authorities, the student admitted to the allegations when questioned in the presence of students and their parents. A female student and the college principal later filed complaints with the police and the cyber cell.

An emergency meeting of the academic committee was held online the same day under the chairmanship of Principal RS Shibu. The committee decided to suspend the student. Police registered the case on Thursday, following which the complainants gave their statements to the police.

The principal said the phone would be handed over to the police as and when required.

He also said the college had decided to initiate compulsory discharge proceedings to permanently expel the student, based on recommendations from the college inquiry committee, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) executive committee and the academic council.

Meanwhile, students affiliated with various organisations have launched protests demanding strict action against the accused. The All India Students’ Federation (AISF) also took out a march to the police station.