Cuttack: An assistant professor of Chemistry in Ravenshaw University here has been suspended after a girl student levelled allegations of sexual exploitation against him Saturday. The accused has been asked to report to the Registrar on a daily basis.
According to the complaint, the assistant professor sexually assaulted the student July 28. The incident came to light Saturday morning when the victim lodged a complaint with the VC and the Gender Sensitisation Committee. “I decided to do so when his behaviour towards me became unbearable. I hope the VC and the committee will take the stern action against him,” the victim said.
Some students of the department alleged that the assistant professor is a pervert. “He had sexually abused another student a couple of days ago. Though the victim approached the university authorities, they protected,” a student said, requesting anonymity.
Ravenshaw vice chancellor Prakash Chandra Sarangi, who suspended the assistant professor, refused to comment on this. No details of the incident have been revealed other than that a girl has come up with a complaint. “Since the matter is under investigation, I cannot comment on it,” Sarangi told Orissa Post, adding action will be taken on the basis of the probe report by the GSC-ASH.
GSC-ASH chairperson Smruti Prava Das is conducting the probe. “The committee has taken up the issue seriously. The victim as also the accused has been asked to appear before the committee Monday to give their versions,” Das said.
Meanwhile, Botany department head Sanhita Padhi stated that such incidents are common in the university. “When I was a student here, I also passed through similar harrowing experiences. Though I approached the authorities baked with evidence, they did not take any action against the man, and instead they tried to protect him,” Padhi alleged.
Post News Network
