Post News Network
Sambalpur, March 9: The Sambalpur University is once again in the news, and this time too for the wrong reason as well. A PhD student of the law department of the varsity lodged a complaint at Burla police station Monday, alleging that Minaketan Sahu, a reader in her department, had tried to outrage her modesty.
Based on the FIR, police arrested Sahu under sections 376 (F) and 511 of IPC. Both the accused and the victim were sent to VSS Medical College and Hospital for medical examination. “We have started an inquiry. The accused teacher would be forwarded to court Tuesday once the medical examination is over,” Burla IIC Binod Lakra said.
Police said lecturers of the law department had asked some students to come to the department Sunday as they had to make preparations for a national-level seminar to be hosted by the department Monday. The victim, along with her friends, had come to the computer laboratory for some work.
After the students found the computer lab locked from outside, they met the HoD to secure the keys of the lab. However, the HoD asked the students to use the computer system in his chamber.
Later, the victim, along with her friend, went to the computer room of the HoD to prepare for the seminar. While working in the system, Sahu strolled in. He sent the victim’s friend on an errand to another room and after the girl went out, he allegedly tried to force himself on the victim. However, he was unsuccessful, as other students rushed in hearing screams of the girl. Sahu managed to flee, as per the complaint with the police.
The teacher, however, dismissed the allegations against him. “I did not attempt to rape her. Her head accidentally touched my body,” he told cops. Notably, a professor of the history department of the varsity had been arrested a while ago for raping a minor.
