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  Stir intensifies after victim dies

Stir intensifies after victim dies

AGE CORRESPONDENT | TAW NANA
Published : Oct 8, 2013, 12:35 am IST
Updated : Oct 8, 2013, 12:35 am IST

Teachers and students intensified their ongoing protest against the B.R. Ambedkar College’s principal after the death of lab assistant Pavitra Bhardwaj. Pavitra, who had set herself on fire seven days ago after alleging sexual harassment by the college principal, succumbed to her injuries on Monday.

Teachers and students intensified their ongoing protest against the B.R. Ambedkar College’s principal after the death of lab assistant Pavitra Bhardwaj. Pavitra, who had set herself on fire seven days ago after alleging sexual harassment by the college principal, succumbed to her injuries on Monday. Meanwhile, a delegation of teachers met the National Commission for Women chairperson and requested her intervention in the case. Teachers from different colleges joined the dharna outside the B.R. Ambedkar College on Monday and expressed their solidarity with the Delhi University and College Karamchari Union (DUCKU), who has called for “sustained agitation” against the university administration and Delhi police to demand justice for 35-year-old Pavitra Bhardwaj’s tragic end. Duta president Nandita Narian, who attended the protest and cremation of Pavitra, said, “It is extremely sad that the principal of B.R. Ambedkar College, whom she had accused of sexual harassment, is roaming free.” Ravi Shankar, assistant professor of political science at Ambekdar College, said that the victim had filed a complaint of sexual and mental harassment three years back and the College Complaint Committee (CCC) was asked to look into it. “The report of the CCC was designed to favour the accused principal because the appointed members in the committee were nominated by him and not elected by the teachers. Moreover, the principal was holding his post when the CCC was investigating his role. This means the report was influenced to give him a clean chit,” he said. Meanwhile, the University administration said that the “matter is within the purview of the college governance and has sought a report of the incidence from the Governing Body of the college.” The police had filed a case of suicide in this case. “We are waiting for the post-mortem report in the case. Meanwhile, we are questioning the principal and other people in the case,” said deputy commissioner of police (central) Alok Kumar.