Sexual assault: NEHU students demand sacking of professor

Shillong: Normal functioning of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong was hindered today as thousands of students staged protest demanding sacking of a professor accused of sexually assaulting a female research scholar. Students from all departments converged at the Library in the morning before marching to the Administrative Block within the University premises shouting slogans against the accused professor AK Das.[caption id=“attachment_1684853” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Protesting crime against women. PTI[/caption] Das, who was appointed as a guide to the research scholar from Assam in the Mathematics department, allegedly sexually assaulted the research scholar. Das was put under suspension since June after the student lodged a formal complaint with the University authorities after which an inquiry committee was also set up to investigate into the matter, University Registrar Laitpharlang Kajee told PTI. The Registrar said the committee is due to submit its final report in a few days time after which necessary actions against the accused could be taken by the authorities. Earlier, the University Vice Chancellor P Shukla and other senior officials of the University addressed the aggrieved students who gathered in front of his office. Assuring the students of ensuring the university campus safe for women, Shukla said NEHU authorities have taken note of the complaint against the accused and if found guilty, actions will be taken as per law. The students’ bodies have also demanded a written response from the authorities while also pressing for filing of an FIR against the accused. PTI