ABVP protests at St.Stephen's College over sexual harassment

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Friday staged protests at St. Stephen's College in the north campus here over the alleged sexual harassment of a doctoral student by an assistant professor of the college.

Waving flags, members of the RSS's students wing entered the college premises and sat outside college principal Valson Thampu's office while raising slogans and demanding his resignation.

Speaking during the protest, ABVP's Delhi state secretary Saket Bahuguna said: "We condemn the attempts of Stephen's principal to mislead the victim and to impose his view on her."

"The audio recording made public by the victim today (Friday) clearly shows his involvement in trying to cover up the crime."

"We demand his immediate resignation. Also, the university administration should take adequate steps to ensure that such cases are dealt with in the right manner by the HoDs (heads of department) and college principal."

"In this case, the DU administration should also initiate inquiry against the principal," he said.

"We will stand by the girl student till she gets justice," ABVP state secretary Rohit Chahal told IANS.

Delhi University Students' Union president Mohit Nagar, vice president Parvesh Malik, joint secretary Ashutosh Mathur also participated in the protest.

The research scholar has alleged that Satish Kumar, an assistant professor of chemistry, harassed her for two years.

The alleged victim, from a rural background, said her harassment started soon after her course began in 2013. Later, her parents spoke to the assistant professor and college principal Valson Thampu. But to no avail.

In her First Information Report (FIR) with police, she also alleged that Thampu made her sign declarations suppressing the incident, a charge he has rejected.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court put on hold the arrest of Satish Kumar.

Justice Indermeet Kaur also issued notice to Delhi Police on Kumar's plea directing them to file a status report with regard to the progress made in the investigation of the case before the next date of hearing.