Kolkata, Nov. 2 -- Jadavpur University (JU) has barred a peon from entering the campus following allegations of sexual harassment of a first-year student at its Technology Building.
The employee, attached to the department of Mathematics, will remain barred until the university's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) completes its inquiry or further orders are issued.
According to a representation submitted by a group of students, the incident took place on Friday when the student was sitting with friends on the seventh floor of the Technology Building. After the employee asked them to come downstairs, her friends left, while she remained there.
The employee allegedly took her to the sixth floor, claiming that students were not allowed on the seventh floor because of repeated laptop thefts. When she apologised and tried to leave, he allegedly grabbed her hand and put his arm around her waist. She reportedly pushed him away and left.
The student later informed her friends, who confronted the employee when he came downstairs. He allegedly denied the charges.
The Acting Registrar issued a letter on Monday, informing the employee of the campus restriction on the Vice-Chancellor's directions pending the ICC inquiry.
The employee has denied the allegations, claiming he was being falsely implicated.
He told the authorities that he had only questioned the students about their presence on the upper floors, as they belonged to the Faculty of Arts and the area was poorly lit. He has sought an impartial inquiry and an examination of CCTV footage.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.