Students protest at Bengaluru private university to demand HoD's sacking over sexual harassment case

Tension gripped the college located in Jayanagar 9th Block for a while after students alleged that they were locked up inside the auditorium and that the management had called the police to control them.

Bengaluru: A large number of students protested at a well-known private university in southern Bengaluru on Thursday to demand the sacking of a professor accused of sexually harassing a teenage student.

Tension gripped Jain (Deemed-To-Be-University) located in Jayanagar 9th Block for a while after students alleged that they were locked up inside the auditorium and that the management had called the police to control them.

A senior police officer said that around 9.30 am, students began gathering in the centre of the campus to stage a protest, leading to the cancellation of classes.

"Students tried to spill into the road but we prevented them. The management later called them into the auditorium to convince them. The students are demanding the immediate termination of the professor and have given us a representation," the officer said, denying that the students were locked up in the conference hall.

Students protest at a well-known private college in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Sanjeev Kumar Mandal, 45, the professor in question, did not appear for questioning before the police despite being issued a notice. Police now plan to detain him and take necessary action, the officer added.

A university official said that no official complaint was filed with the institution by the student. "We got to know about the issue only after the police sought details. We have now taken up a complaint suo motu and initiated an inquiry. The person has been placed under suspension," the official said.

On October 5, the Tilaknagar police had registered an FIR against Mandal for sexually harassing the 19-year-old at his home in Jayanagar 9th Block on September 25.

According to the complaint, Mandal had invited her over for lunch. Upon reaching the residence, the student realised that none of his family members was present, and she was ushered in.

While she was seated, Mandal approached her, sat next to her and began discussing her academic record, specifically mentioning her low attendance. He allegedly attempted to leverage her academic standing, promising to increase her attendance and award higher marks if she complied with his advances.

The complaint alleged that Mandal then began behaving inappropriately and sexually harassed the student, including putting his hand inside her clothing.

The student objected to the conduct. She managed to leave the premises around 2 pm after receiving a timely phone call from a friend, which she used as a pretext for an urgent departure.