On November 30 last year, a second-year MSc student was reportedly asked to go to the computer room where Bengali department lecturer Indubhusan Mondol reportedly locked the door and molested her. She later filed a complaint with the college authorities, who forwarded it to Calcutta University (CU).
The students alleged that no action was taken and the accused teacher went on taking classes as usual. CU conducted an inquiry and the report was scheduled to come out on March 6. It was postponed till today. However, Suranjan Das, Pro Vice-Chancellor (academic) said the matter will be discussed on Tuesday. “The inquiry panel has not come up with its recommendations. The matter will be discussed in the CU syndicate meeting tomorrow,” he said.
On today’s incident, he said he had no knowledge of what had happened. He also made no comment on the teacher taking classes even though an inquiry is on.
It is then that the students decided to agitate. “The students were protesting as no action has yet been taken against the teacher accused of molesting a student. Policemen were sent to the spot. Later in the evening, the agitation was called off,” said Rajesh Subarna, deputy commissioner of police (south).
“Indubhusan Mondol molested the girl and no step was taken against him. He is coming to the college regularly and is taking classes and roaming around. We are all feeling insecure. Moreover, we heard he was promoted in January. We told the panel everything and now the report has been delayed,” said Roshni Chatterjee, a second-year student of the college. “We will continue our agitation unless the man is punished.
We have formed a students forum in the college to organise protest,” said Swagata Palit, secretary of the students’ forum.