Meghalaya students protest sexual harassment in varsity

Students and faculty members of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Wednesday gave a three-day ultimatum demanding the termination of a professor for allegedly sexually harassing a woman research scholar.

Thousands of students took out a protest march and assembled in front of the office of Vice Chancellor P. Shukla, shouted slogans and demanded the sacking of mathematics professor A.K. Das.

"We have given a three-day ultimatum to the NEHU vice chancellor demanding termination of Das for sexually harassing our fellow student," NEHU Research Scholars Committee member Rusievan Shangpliang said.

"If the university authorities fail to take action, students will intensify their agitation," he said.

The university, one of India's premier central universities, was set up in 1973.

NEHU suspended Das July 9 after the research scholar filed a complaint with the women's cell of the university.

An inquiry committee has been constituted to probe the matter, Shukla said. The report will be submitted in 10 days.