An Assistant Professor at NIT Silchar was arrested in Assam after a female student accused him of sexual harassment.
An Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), in Assam's Silchar has been arrested after a female student accused him of sexual harassment, said the police.
Dr Koteswara Raju Dhenukonda, who was suspended by the institute was arrested on Friday from the institute's campus on the basis of separate complaints registered by the victim and her family, said Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP) Numal Mahatta, reported NDTV.
Initially, the professor attempted to hide himself by locking the door of his quarter from outside, the officer said. The cops traced Dhenukonda's location through his mobile phone and detained him at around 5.30 pm, the SP said, adding that he was subsequently arrested under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
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Professor Touched Inappropriately: Victim
The arrest came hours after the professor, in the Electrical Engineering department, was suspended by the institute "with immediate effect." The development took place after the woman, a student of Bachelor of Technology, submitted a complaint. Students at the campus had also staged protest seeking action.
In her complaint, the victim said the alleged sexual harassment took place when the professor summoned her to his chamber.
The student said the professor touched her inappropriately in the complaint to institute authorities.
"He asked me to sit beside him... and asked me why I get less marks. He started holding my hands and touching my fingers," the woman stated.
"He then gradually held my thighs. He then started playing vulgar songs on his computer in front of me... touched my stomach and rubbed my stomach. I started crying but he did not stop. He asked me to feel comfortable and spread my legs properly. He then grabbed my neck from behind and kept holding it," she said further.
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Chamber Sealed
The woman further said that she escaped when her friend gave her a call who was waiting outside the cabin. The victim dubbed the incident as "molestation and mental and sexual harassment."
The Registrar of the institue, Ashim Roy said in the notice said the chamber where the alleged incident took place has been "sealed". He also said that all necessary support is extended to the victim so that she feels safe and comfortable.
The matter has been sent to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the institute for an enquiry, he added.
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