The victim girl of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), who was molested and her Father met AMU Vice Chancellor lt Gen (Retd) Zameer Uddin Shah on Monday. Meanwhile, the local police have sought court’s permission to issue Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) against absconding professor.
Notably, the girl hailing from Kashmir was alleged molested by Chairman of law Department, AMU, Prof. Mohd Shabbir. Of which she complained to university administration on December 3 and lodged FIR under section 354 and 354-A at Civil lines police station on December 6. According to press statement issued by the University, AMU VC met the concerned girl along with her father and it was clearly brought out by them that it was a case of molestation only and not the other kind of sexual misdemeanor as reported.
On Sunday girl's father reached Aligarh and asked to meet the university VC and other officials for telling grievances of his daughter and seek reply on it. According to sources in the university, in the meeting held on Monday the university officials assured him that inquiry had been ordered and it would soon complete the probe. "It was also assured that impartial inquiry would be conducted and if professor would be found guilty stern action would be taken," said sources.
"Prof. Shabbir had been absconding since case was lodged against him. We have come to know that he has filed a surrender application in the court,'' said SP Aligarh Pankaj Pandey over phone. SP said we have also sought court’s permission to issue NBW against the absconding professor who had been evading arrest since December 6.
"A committee comprising nine members had been constituted under University’s Women Cell which will probe the complaint of girl. The complaint has not been filed as ‘sexual harassment’. Impartial action would be taken", said Registrar AMU, Group Captain (Retd) Shahrukh Shamshad. However, university students and teachers opted to remain silent over the issue until any conclusion comes out of the inquiry. Though, it remained in discussion in university’s corner.
The AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA) had denied commenting on the issue. "We have nothing to say until the inquiry gets over. There could be a meeting on the issue if Prof Shabbir writes to us," said Honorary Secretary, Aftam Alam. Whereas the President, Central Universities Research Scholars Association (CURSA) Aligarh, Jasim Mohammad said CURSA strongly condemns the act of Prof Shabbir which is not only against women-hood but also inhuman act. He has broken teaching ethics, Islamic moral & trust of students. "AMU administration must take action and review all pending such earlier accusation of sexual abuse," he demanded.
Earlier on December 6, talking to local media, Prof. Shabbir's wife Khan Noor Afroz claimed that her husband is innocent and he had made a victim of departmental conspiracy and nothing more than that. In year 2006, professor was suspended for alleged sexual harassment of a US student, who was on a visit to University. When the student went back to US, she had lodged a complaint with the US embassy. It was forwarded to AMU, but after four months of suspension he was given clean chit.