The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi released a statement on Thursday after a PhD student alleged sexual harassment on the college campus earlier this week.
In the official statement, the JNU said authorities are investigating the matter and advised people to share information related to the incident with the security department.
“This is regarding a reprehensible incident that took place on campus on the intervening night of January 17-18 at Aryabhatta Road near JNU nursery. The JNU administration with the Security Branch has been closely coordinating with the police in the process of investigation. In case of any information related to this incident, residents are advised to immediately intimate to the security branch or the police, (sic)” the statement read.
“The JNU administration reiterates its resolve for zero tolerance towards any form of violence on campus and remains committed towards providing a safer environment to all its residents on the campus. While the investigation is going on, it is requested that all stakeholders remain vigilant,” the statement said.
What’s the sexual harassment case?
A PhD student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University was allegedly molested while walking in the campus around midnight on Monday.
“It was revealed that at around 11.45 PM on Monday, a Ph.D. student was taking a stroll in the campus. When she was walking near the East Gate road of the university, a man came on a bike from inside the campus and tried to molest her,” police said.
Police said that a case has been registered and several teams are working to nab the accused.
“”FIR No 42/22 U/s 354A/354B/323/341/379 IPC at PS Vasant Kunj North has been registered and investigation is in progress. Several teams are working since then to nab the accused,” The Delhi Police said.
Meanwhile, a student claimed, “”She [the victim] has sustained cuts and bruises and is still in trauma. The police had shown her photographs of 25 to 30 suspects but she has said they were not involved. She says that she will be able to identify him.”
JNU students protest over ‘security lapses on campus’
The incident sparked a protest by students, bringing into the spotlight again the issue of security in the vast complex.
Beating dhaplis and carrying placards demanding justice for a woman, scores of students protested against the incident on Tuesday.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) and the students’ union alleged that there has been a string of security lapses on the campus under the eyes of the Cyclops security agency and said the accused in the January 5, 2020 attack by masked men are yet to be arrested.
“There have been burglaries in the houses of faculty members, the January 5 attack when masked men entered the campus and attacked students and teachers and then this incident,” JNUTA secretary Moushumi Basu said.
(With inputs from PTI)
