A contract worker at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology was arrested on Friday for sexually harassing a girl student inside a lift in the women’s hostel at the Kattankulathur campus.
The hostel warden has been suspended for not immediately acting on the complaint.
As no action was taken by the authorities on the complaint immediately, hundreds of students of the deemed university staged a protest on the campus on Thursday night.
One of the protesting students said that the victim got into the elevator to reach the sixth floor of the hostel when the contract worker — who collects food waste from the mess — pressed the button for the top floor.
“The worker masturbated in front of the girl student who started screaming for help. He allowed her to get out of the lift only when she kept screaming louder and louder,” the student said.
Delay alleged
When the girl reported this to the hostel warden, she was asked to give it in writing and wait for CCTV camera footage.
“The employee was identified by the student in the CCTV footage. However, she was asked to stay silent,” said another student protester.
According to the protesters, the hostel warden delayed registering a complaint for over two hours.
After that, as there was no action from the authorities, the students went on a protest seeking immediate action.
Accused Arjun, a contract worker at the SRM College.
On hearing about the incident, the Maraimalainagar police reached the spot and tried to pacify the agitating students till midnight, but in vain.
Only on an assurance from the police that they would take appropriate action against the culprit, did the students withdraw their protest.
The registrar, N. Sethuraman, said the institution deeply regretted the incident.
“The culprit breached security and was in the lift. As the hostel is equipped with CCTV, it helped in identifying him,” he said. A committee looked into the incident and the warden had been suspended, he added, without elaborating on the reasons.
As the consent of the parents of the victim was required, there was a delay in lodging a complaint with the police, during which time the students became restless, the registrar explained. The university lodged a complaint subsequently and the culprit was arrested by 3.30 a.m., he added.
A senior police officer said no one preferred a complaint till 11 p.m. on Thursday, though the incident took place in the afternoon.
“We insisted on a complaint to take action against the culprit. Finally, it was the hostel warden who filed the complaint and we arrested the contract worker, Arjunan, of Chettipunyam village near Singaperumalkoil,” the officer said.
An FIR has been registered under Sections 294(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and the worker has been remanded in judicial custody.
Relook at security
Meanwhile, the university registrar said the committee would look at strengthening the safety and security of students on campus.
Social media accounts, quoting students, reported that male workers could peer through the windows into the women’s hostel and that the authorities were insensitive at times to their concerns.
The registrar, however, said, “There are woman guards and counsellors to help students who are given freedom to voice their concerns, issues and challenges. The entire security system and processes are being looked at afresh, prioritising security aspects.”
