Guwahati: An assistant professor at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Assam’s Silchar was suspended on Friday after a first-year student levelled allegations of sexual harassment against him.
In a handwritten note, which was shared on social media, the student claimed that the professor, D Koteswara Raju, inappropriately touched her after calling her to his chamber to discuss the student’s low marks on Thursday.
“He asked me to explain the reason for my scores and suddenly started touching me. He asked me to feel comfortable and said that my marks can be managed if I obey him,” she said in the note.
“He asked me to sit with him, later grabbed me from behind, and talked about my body parts. A friend called me that time and I rushed out of that room,” the student further stated.
Assam Police took cognisance of the case after a user posted the note on social media and tagged Assam Police, the CM’s office and NIT Silchar. The Cachar SP was instructed to look into the matter immediately.
As the news spread, students of the institute started protests in the campus, demanding Raju’s removal. The protests were called off on Friday morning after the authorities assured Raju’s suspension.
According to NIT Silchar students, Raju was a repeat offender as this was the second official complaint against him.
The protesting students also alleged that Raju is a repeated offender and another such case came to light
In 2021, another student had accused Raju of sexual harassment, but the assistant professor was exonerated by a local court due to lack of evidence and the complainant’s absence during proceedings.
“We do not want such a person to teach us,” said a student.
