Delhi girl molested at Manipal college

A case of alleged sexual harassment of an Indian medical student by a senior teacher has rocked the Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Nepal’s first private medical college located in Pokhara.

Updated on: May 10, 2011, 02:25:39 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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A case of alleged sexual harassment of an Indian medical student by a senior teacher has rocked the Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Nepal’s first private medical college located in Pokhara.

The incident took place on May 4, when the teacher with the anatomy department allegedly molested the second year student, a 19-year-old from New Delhi, on pretext of helping her improve her grades.

While the scared student has returned to Delhi, an internal inquiry absolved the teacher of any misconduct. Despite repeated attempts, the teacher didn’t respond to calls to give his version of events.

The student alleges the teacher called her to his office to inquire about low marks in tests. When she said she was unwell, he allegedly molested her and assured to “explain everything” if she goes to his room for 2-3 “sittings”.

“I was shocked and very scared and didn’t know what to do,” the student said. Her mother and brother reached Pokhara the next day and lodged a complaint with the college and police. When they confronted the teacher, he denied any wrongdoing and filed a police case alleging physical assault by the student and her family.

The family was taken to the police station and let off late on May 5 evening. They returned to Delhi the next day.

“There’s no substance to the allegations. She’s a weak student and the teacher was trying to help. If patting a student amounts to sexual harassment, I have nothing to say,” said Dr. BM Nagpal, Dean, MCOMS, Pokhara. The MCOMS authorities have decided to suspend the student for allegedly assaulting teachers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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