SILCHAR, July 29 - The Assam University Students� Union (AUSU) has pressed for immediate punishment to Dr Sudipto Sarkar, Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering at the university, the prime accused in the molestation of a final year student of the same department.
Milon Das, president of the union said that on July 3, the victim who is a resident of Tripura, had contacted the union with shocking details of how the Professor had been obstructing her from appearing in delivering her presentation and even sitting in the examination. In her report submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on July 15, the victim alleged that the accused Professor had been repeatedly harassing her and even had sexually abused her following which the Union had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against the accused professor before the Vice-Chancellor with copies of the complaint to the President of India, PMO, MHRD, National Commission for Women, New Delhi and also to the Chief Ministers of Assam and Tripura.
�We do not understand why the university is delaying in taking steps in penalising the accused Professor and give justice to the victim. We have made it clear to the authorities that if the accused Professor, who has been allegedly sent on leave, is not ousted from the varsity within 12 noon by July 30, we shall not allow the Vice-Chancellor to continue to remain in his office. He must take action or face consequences. We shall be bound to exercise all our rights in the interest of the students,� Das told The Assam Tribune on Saturday. He added to say that some more students have submitted a complaint against the accused of being involved in similar instances as well.
Das informed that a team of the Rashtriya Mahila Suraksha Samiti has reached the varsity to study the case.
On the other hand, Prof Sudeshna Purakayastha, interim chairperson of the Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) on Sexual Harassment to Women at Workplace of the varsity said that the matter is being probed with priority. �We have recorded the statements of the victim and also the accused has appeared for a hearing and the matter is being investigated with priority. We understand the matter is grave and such instances certainly affect the academic as well as administrative ambiance of an institute of higher learning,� Prof Purakaystha maintained.
Meanwhile, Prof Dilip Chandra Nath, Vice-Chancellor of the university said that action against the accused will be taken as per the report of the ICC.
