Rourkela: Police is on the hunt for suspended Chief Security Officer (CSO) of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, Balaram Champatiray in connection with his alleged involvement in sexual harassment in the institute premises.
According to sources, police raided Chamapiray's house today but found it locked.
The police started the investigation on the basis of three FIRs lodged at the Sector-3 police station by two women security guards and the institute director last night.
One of the complainants told media persons, “The Security officer has been torturing and harassing us sexually for over years now. We want he should be punished and thrown out of NIT.”
On the details of the FIRs, PK Mishra, DSP, Rourkela, said, “Two women security guards have lodged complaints alleging sexual harassment and abuse. Besides, the Fact Finding team formed by the NIT director has lodged an FIR against Champatiray. We will club all the complaints together and probe into the matter. We have raided a few places but have not been able to trace him. But we will get him soon.”
Moreover, police have also recorded the statements of five other women, who have also been sexually exploited by the absconding security officer under section 161. Police sources informed that the statements have been recorded on the basis of the complaint lodged by the two women security guards.
Notably, on May 25, students of the NIT had caught Champatiray groping a woman security officer inside his office.
The students, who photographed Champatiray in the act, have launched a protest demanding his removal for sexual harassment of the subordinates by the Security Officer.
They have alleged that Champatiray had been harassing more than a dozen women working under him.
The students are demanding the arrest of Champatiray and an inquiry into the whole incident. Moreover, they have also sought the intervention of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
"We want the intervention of the MHRD and till that time we do not want to talk to the authorities here," said a protesting student.
"Now they are making an issue about our stance rather than focusing on the accused. We want to know why and under whose direction the issue was being suppressed since so many years," said another agitating student.