Dhenkanal: Tension prevailed at Synergy Institute of Engineering and Technology College here after a professor was accused of showing inappropriate conduct towards some fourth year girls of the civil department of the college.
Protesting against this the students locked the main gate of the college and sat on a dharna. They called out a demonstration demanding immediate suspension of the accused professor. They threatened to continue with the stir if no steps are taken in this regard. They have submitted a written complaint with the principal in-charge of the college.
The agitation started from noon and continued till evening with the students shouting slogans against the said professor. The complainants claimed that this was not the first time that the professor had misbehaved with the girls.
According to girls, the civil department head Chinmaya Mahapatra often misbehaved with girls. He threatened to give them less marks if someone tried to stop him or raise their voice against him. The students had on several occasions alerted the college principal of the issues. However, no steps were taken in this regard. Parents also expressed discontentment and came in support of the agitating students.
“We were forced to stage a demonstration and the college administration did little even after several complaints,” the girls said. Meanwhile, the principal in-charge of the college Itishree Mohanty confirmed having received complaints from the girls. She promised to solve the matter after a meeting with the girls and the department head.
As the agitation intensified, the college authorities alerted police who reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Sadar SDPO Niranjan Patra, Town police IIC Abhinav Dalua reached the college and held discussions with the agitating students.
A meeting was called in the presence of the police. The matter was solved after professor Mahapatra decided to resign from the college, it was learnt. PNN