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AU proctor initiates probe
ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY (AU) administration has initiated an inquiry into an alleged incident of harassment and misbehaviour with a girl student of Medieval and Modern History department allegedly by some students and staff members.
ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY (AU) administration has initiated an inquiry into an alleged incident of harassment and misbehaviour with a girl student of Medieval and Modern History department allegedly by some students and staff members.
The Proctor Prof Jata Shankar has decided to formally inquire into the matter after the girl duly lodged a complaint at the Proctor's Office in this regard on Friday.
The Proctor has already written a letter to the head of the Medieval and Modern History department Prof NR Farooqi requesting him to ensure that all the staff members and students extend due co-operation in the probe.
The incident is said to have taken place in a room of the non-teaching staff members of the Mediaeval and Modern History department on Tuesday. Though the varsity officials deny, sources say, two non-teaching staff members, two students as well as a relative of one of the non-teaching staff members locked the door of the room from inside and misbehaved with her. The girl, scared and dizzy, shouted for help and then herself managed to unlock the door and come out where she fainted. Later the victim was rushed to a hospital.
Though the girl is said to have apprised verbally about the incident to the department teachers amidst bouts of fainting on that very day, the varsity officials are said to have downplayed and tried to hush up the matter citing as reason the non-filing of a formal complaint by the victim.
The incident is also blamed for the incident of thrashing of an employee of the Medieval and Modern History department by a MA-I (Arabic) student Nawab Mehboob on Thursday. Head of the department had reported the incident to the officiating proctor Prof Shankar Dayal Dwivedi following which Nawab was suspended on Friday.
However, the whole episode took a new turn when the girl formally filed a complaint with the Proctor this morning.
On being contacted, AU Proctor Prof Jata Shankar confirmed the start of the probe and said, "I have received the complaint from the girl today and I have decided to personally investigate the matter.
The girl has informed that two employees, two students and a relative of one of the employees were in the room at the time of the incident. She has alleged that despite her shouting, they failed to open the room to allow her to leave," he said. Proctor said strict action will be taken against the guilty if the allegations are found to be true.
