Sexual harassment: Prof. removed as Director

Students insist he should be terminated from service

Even as the professor who was accused of resorting to sexual harassment of girl students was on Monday removed from the post of the Director of the Institute of Science and Technology and was barred from taking classes for the post-graduates, students of the JNTUK on Monday staged a massive dharna demanding his removal from service.

The agitation was called off following an assurance given by Collector Kartikeya Misra to the victims that justice would be done and their interests would be protected.

Earlier in the day, member of the State Women’s Commission Rajyalakshmi Sirigineedi visited the university and had separate interactions with the victims and the officials.

Subsequently, Vice-Chancellor V.S.S. Kumar announced the action taken against K. Babulu accused of sexual harassment.

Though everything went peacefully till the evening, the students gathered at the entrance gate by the time of closure of classes and announced that they were going to stage a peaceful agitation till the professor was removed from service. He could put in his papers voluntarily, they said in unison.

The university officials alerted the police who gathered in large numbers and tried to pacify the students.

Collector intervenes

Late in the evening, the victims, accompanied by Prof. Kumar, Ms. Rajyalakshmi and the police officials, called on the Collector in his chambers and sought his intervention. Mr. Misra advised the victims to lodge a complaint with Prof. Kumar and wanted the latter to forward the same to the police. He asked the police officials to conduct an independent inquiry and register cases against the accused. Mr. Misra wanted the police to deal with the case in a sensible manner so that the victims would not be embarrassed further.