4 staff of Andhra Medical college held for 'sexual harassment', CM Naidu orders action

Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh): Four staff members of a medical college in Kakinada district were arrested on Friday for allegedly sexually harassing female students.

According to a report submitted by the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) on July 11, nearly 50 students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (B.Sc. MLT) and Diploma courses lodged complaints against the accused.

The complaints detail repeated misconduct by these staffers over an extended period, including threats, inappropriate behavior and being under the influence of alcohol while on duty.

Based on the ICC report, Principal of Rangaraya medical college, A Vishnu Vardhan, suspended the accused under Rule 8(1) of the APCS (CCA) Rules, 1991, pending disciplinary proceedings.

"These four employees have been restricted to Kakinada headquarters and barred from leaving without official permission and they will receive subsistence allowance as per rules during suspension," a source in the medical college told PTI.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu sought a report from the Health department and directed officials to take stringent action against all the accused.

"All four accused were arrested today and cases have been registered under Sections 75(1)(i)(iv), 79 read with 3(5) BNS, and Section 7 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act and section 9 read with 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Kakinada Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devraj Patil told PTI.