JNUSU demands arrest of professor accused of sexual misconduct

Scores of Jawaharlal Nehru University students on Monday staged a protest outside police station near the varsity demanding the arrest and strict legal action against the professor alleged of sexual harassment.

"Police is intently favouring the accused trying to safeguard him from the charges. Today only four people which did not include the accused were questioned," said Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union President Geeta Kumari said.

On Thursday, Geeta Kumari said when seven students from JNU lodged a complaint of sexual misbehaviour at Vasant Kunj police station against the professor, police registered the complaints with only one name. "This is shameful," she said.

Professor Atul Johri of School of Life Science is accused of sexual misbehaviour with several of JNU students.

One protester noted that a full working day has passed after the complaint was filed, but "police has done no investigation".

"Police is giving the accused time to seek anticipatory bail and is protecting him from going to jail," another protester said amidst the slogans: "Down with Delhi Police. Delhi Police give us answers..."

"We demand his immediate arrest. If police thinks they can play clever with us... we protesting students standing here will also claim that we feel threatened with him moving around freely," Geeta Kumari said.

This protest outside the police station will continue till police issues an arrest warrant against him, said students.

However, as per police officials, the accused professor was asked to join the investigation. "But he hasn't joined till now," an officer said.

--IANS

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