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Sambalpur: While the world is busy celebrating International Women’s Day, four girl students of Sambalpur University on Tuesday leveled mental harassment and double entendre charges against Dr Manoj Behera, lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts, of the varsity.
The students staged a dharna in front of administrative office of the university after submitting a complaint to the vice chancellor demanding stringent action against the lecturer.
In their complaint, the students have mentioned that Dr Behera is mentally harassing the students and using double entendre while speaking to them.
Besides, the lecturer also uses derogatory remarks over Sambalpuri tradition and language and harasses students learning Sambalpuri folk dance, the complaint read.
The students also threatened to bring the matter to the notice of Governor, if the university authorities fail to take any action against the lecturer.
“He is misbehaving with the girl students of the department, mainly the girls studying Sambalpuri folk culture. Since the last six months, we have been complaining about it regularly, but no action has been taken yet,” a complainant alleged.
The lecturer in the dock, however, had defended himself. “The complaint is completely baseless. I have been taking classes here since last five years and have made efforts to bring the department to such a good level. There has been no such charge against me in the last five years.”
When contacted, Chitta Ranjan Tripathy, Vice Chancellor of Sambalpur University, said, “We have referred all kinds of representation to the committee. After probing the case, the committee will give its report and necessary action will be taken against those found guilty."
