The FIRs lodged against VSSUT, Burla Vice-Chancellor Prof Atal Choudhury with allegations of his involvement in sexual harassment of wives of some teaching staffs and a lady teacher in the institute are being discussed afresh as a team from Bhubaneswar accompanied by local police made an inquiry into the matter recently.At the initial stage, the local police didn’t give much importance to the FIRs as it was convinced that the complaints were the handiwork of some staff who were suspended for negligence in duty.
People of Burla and Sambalpur Township are well aware of the incident and the groupism among the VSSUT teaching staff. But on an instruction from the Chancellor office, a team from Bhubaneswar and the local police conducted an investigation recently.
It is learnt that some staffs resorted to a cease-work in the VSSUT last year, when another group didn’t cooperate with them and were helpful in conducting classes and examinations. The VC had taken disciplinary action against the ‘unruly’ staffs.
Three ladies who are wives of the suspended staff lodged FIRs in the local police station that the VC sexually harassed them. Even a woman staff made an allegation that the VC abducted her and her daughter.
“We know what is what. Police is capable enough to know the truth behind the FIRs,” Burla PS IIC Bibhuti Bhusan Bhoi said adding, “But police are conducting the investigation as per the guidelines.”
When contacted, some senior staffs termed the FIRs as baseless and meant to harass the VC who wanted to bring the indiscipline staff to track. “If false allegations continue to be made against the VC, then no good staff/educationist will come to head the VSSUT. The glory of the institute will be adversely impacted,” said a senior staff.
A woman staff said that some staff are continuously targeting the VC, the Dean and the HoDs as they are sincerely instructing all teaching staff not to make any negligence in teaching.
Despite repeated attempts, the VC could not be contacted as his cell phone was found switched off. It is learnt that he is on leave. Sambalpur SP Kanwar Vishal Singh said, “The case is under investigation. So nothing more about it could be revealed.”