Titilagarh: A female student has alleged mental harassment by a faculty member at Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) Autonomous College in Titilagarh in Bolangir district. The incident, coming in the wake of a student suicide case in Balasore over sexual harassment, has sparked concern. According to reports, the lecturer had been subjecting the student to sustained mistreatment for several days. On Saturday, the lecturer allegedly sent a message at 7:47 am asking her to report for a practical examination at 9 am. When the student arrived slightly late, the lecturer reportedly abused her verbally and asked her to leave the hall, barring her from taking the test.
As a result, the student lost marks in the practical exam. Feeling humiliated, she returned home in tears and later collapsed. Her parents and sister immediately went to the college and submitted a written complaint to the principal. However, the student’s family has accused the college principal of attempting to resolve the matter informally by collecting signatures from the student and her relatives instead of initiating a formal inquiry. Media representatives who approached the principal for comment were met with silence. The student later complained to the Titilagarh police station Sunday.
On Monday, a closed-door meeting was held at the college, which, according to sources, appeared aimed at suppressing the issue. The principal allegedly pressured the student and her family to sign a resolution promising not to escalate the matter. The principal also reportedly questioned the family why they had informed the media. His conduct and the signature collection process have drawn criticism. The student is currently in a distressed mental state, family members said. When contacted, Titilagarh IIC Kalyani Behera confirmed that both parties—the student, her family, the lecturer and the principal—have been called for questioning. “We are monitoring the situation closely. An investigation is underway and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings,” she said.