New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sacked its professor and Congress Lok Sabha MP from Inner Manipur, Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, after holding him guilty of sexually harassing female students.
The dismissal, ordered with immediate effect, was based on the findings of the university’s Internal Committee (IC), which recommended a “major punishment” against him.
“An inquiry was conducted by the Internal Committee (IC) against Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, pursuant to allegations of sexual harassment. Based on the findings, the Internal Committee (IC) recommended a major punishment to Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam,” read the order, signed by Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Santishree D. Pandit, a copy of which was accessed by NDTV.
“Upon following due process and considering all available facts, and as per the report of the Internal Committee (IC), the punishment of dismissal from the services of the university is hereby imposed on Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences of the university, with immediate effect,” the order added.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had staged a protest at the university last month to demand action over complaints it said had been filed by 11 female students.
The student organisation questioned the delay in handling the complaints, which it said had been submitted to the IC around four months earlier, and also the silence of Congress party, its student wing NSUI and Left student organisations over the allegations.
Akoijam had rejected the allegations, and accused “racist schemers” of trying to damage his reputation through unverified allegations and lies.
Akoijam taught at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems in JNU’s School of Social Sciences. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Manipur’s Inner Manipur constituency in 2024 on a Congress ticket.
