Second molestation case at Visva-Bharati: Student ‘settles issue’

Someswar Boral,TNN | Sep 3, 2014, SANTINIKETAN: Within a day of lodging a harassment complaint against one of her seniors, the third year student of Visva-Bharati has 'settled the issue amicably'. The VB authorities, though, have remained silent.

Meanwhile, a group of students, mostly from the northeastern states studying in Visva-Bharati, met vice-chancellor Sushanta Duttagupta on Tuesday. They demanded security for all the students and protection from sexual harassment for the girl students.

Ritam Roy, a second year student who claimed to be a state committee member of AISA, said, "There must be an elected committee to prevent gender discrimination and exploitation in each Bhavana (institute) of the university. And, student representatives from those Bhavana committees should be the members of the apex panel for prevention of sexual harassment. The vice-chancellor has agreed to our proposal."

On Monday night, the girl complained that she was sexually exploited by a senior. The third-year student alleged the incident happened on May 30 when the senior had asked her to meet him on the pretext of discussing some academic matters. She had told the university's anti-harassment panel on Monday that she was too scared to complain, fearing it would ruin her career. But the courage of one of her juniors — the sexual harassment survivor who filed a complaint last week but was forced leave Visva-Bharati in tears —gave her the courage to speak up.

TOI's calls and SMSes to committee chief Mousumi Bhattacharya and VB spokesperson Sandip Basu Sarbadhikari went unanswered.