The FM College administration has initiated a probe into a case of harassment of girl students by two senior teachers in the Odia department.
The case was brought before the college authority by a group of girl students who complained that two senior teachers, including the HOD of the Odia department, were constantly harassing them mentally, morally and sexually. The aggrieved students also approached the Baleswar District Bar Association for conducting a probe into the case through a lady member.
“We have decided to send a lady advocate to make an inquiry into the case. We feel there is some shred of truth in the allegations as some married students came to us for aid with their husbands,” said District Bar Association secretary Manoj Nayak. The complaints mainly alleged that they were subjected to mental, sexual and moral harassment by Dr Harihar Kanungo and Dr Dinabandhu Behera. They, besides bringing the matter to the knowledge of the principal of the college, later submitted a memorandum to the ADM, seeking justice.
However, another group of students said that the duo was maligned due to internal feud among the teachers in the department. It was a ploy of a vested interest to defame them, they alleged. “A group of students about 10-15 gave me a written complaint against Kanungo and Behera. We have a sexual harassment redressal cell in our college and the matter has been referred to it. I would act after receiving a report from the cell, “ Principal Sudarshan Nayak said.