Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 25: Reliable sources confirmed that Prof Abdul Rasheed, who was earlier working in Mangalore University, was taken into custody by the policemen for questioning on Tuesday May 24 relating to a case in which a junior lecturer committed suicide about three years ago, allegedly because of sexual harassment. Rasheed presently works at Mysore University as professor.

Sujata, working as junior lecturer in the department of applied botany in Mangalore University, had also been pursuing PhD degree there. The then head of the department, Prof Rasheed, who was guiding her in her research, reportedly used to sexually harass her. Frustrated over the same, Sujata had committed suicide in 2008, after leaving behind a suicide note, duly explaining the pain she suffered at her guide’s hands. Thereafter, Sujata’s husband and office bearers of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti had filed a complaint with the police.

After Sujata’s death, Rasheed got shifted to Mysore University. It is gathered that the policemen, after getting the permission of university registrar, took Prof Abdul Rasheed into custody relating to this case.