Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Aug 9: Assistant professor in the postgraduate department of criminology and forensic science, Dr Dinesh J Narayankar, was suspended from service on Tuesday August 8. He has been facing allegation of sexually harassing a girl student of the university. A student, who is native of West Bengal, had complained of sexual harassment against the assistant professor.

As per information, the girl student, in a complaint delivered to vice chancellor of the university, Dr Pramod Ghai, on December 19 last year, had said that the assistant professor had threatened to allot her less marks if she did not favourably respond his sexual overtures.

Although the complaint in this regard had been filed long time back, the university had failed to act on it. After the student reportedly threatened to go to the home minister with the complaint, it is said, that the university authorities constituted a committee headed by a syndicate member to probe the complaint by questioning the concerned. The commit6tee which held investigation and recorded statements of the concerned,  recommended for the suspension of the professor and investigation against him.

Reportedly the professor also had slapped the student besides threatening to rape her, the victim claimed in her complaint. She also mentioned that the assistant professor does not treat girl students with respect.

Dr Ghai stated that a decision to appoint a committee of a single judge to go into the matter has been taken. On Tuesday, girl students led by ABVP held protest in front of the administration wing of the university.