Assam News: An assistant professor at Assam University has been accused of sexual harassment. The university administration has made it clear that the accused can also be dismissed if found guilty. University Vice Chancellor Professor Rajiv Mohan Pant said that earlier also in such cases, the accused personnel have been fired under the POCSO Act and this time too justice will be done. He said that an impartial internal investigation is going on in this matter and the university is working with complete transparency.
Students’ protest and ABVP’s activism
The matter started when on Sunday, students and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) lodged an FIR against the accused assistant professor Ajit Kumar Jena. The students protested fiercely against such cases increasing in the campus and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. The students say that the security environment in the university is deteriorating and the administration should take strict steps. ABVP representatives have demanded fair justice and strict punishment in this case.
New twist in police investigation and counter FIR
Cachar district Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta has informed that the matter is under investigation and the police are making efforts to arrest the accused. Meanwhile, a new twist came when the accused Ajit Kumar Jena lodged a counter FIR against some students alleging caste discrimination. This has further increased the sensitivity of the case and the police will now have to investigate both sides. The administration has also kept in mind that both the complaints should be investigated impartially.
Such cases have happened before, there is a precedent for action
This is not the first time that a case of sexual abuse has come to light in Assam University. In February too, a 57-year-old employee of the law department of the university was arrested for allegedly molesting a minor student. In that case, the police had registered a case under Sections 75(2), 351(2) of the Indian Justice Code and Section 12 of the POCSO Act. The Vice Chancellor has stressed that there will be no leniency in such cases in the university and strict action will be taken against the accused so that such incidents can be prevented in future.
