Visva Bharati students shut Univ over molestation of student

Kolkata: The students shut down all the departments of Visva Bharati University on Monday seeking removal of the security chief over alleged molestation of a student in front of the gate of the girl's hostel on Sunday night. They demanded stricter vigilance of the campus area and sat on a demonstration in front of the administrative building of the varsity on Monday.

Officiating Vice-Chancellor Professor Swapan Kumar Datta called an emergency meeting in the afternoon and it was only after he announced the decision to take the security officer off from duty did the students lift their agitation.

A student of third year was allegedly molested by a motor-cycle-borne youth when she was coming out of the gate of her Sri Niketan hostel on Sunday night. "I was coming out of the hostel gate with one of my friend when suddenly a youth came on a motorcycle and hit me on my chest. He also pushed my colleague and sped away," the complainant said.

When the news spread, the students started agitating demanding removal of security chief Supriyo Ganguly. They alleged that their repeated complaints to Ganguly about outsiders trespassing into the campus and even smuggling in drugs in and around the varsity to vitiate the atmosphere has fallen on deaf ears.

The students had assembled in front of Sri Niketan hostel since Sunday night immediately after the incident took place. When the security personnel arrived at the spot, there was a scuffle among the students and the guards. In the morning, the students shut all the departments. Professor Dutta was gheraoed in his car as he arrived to start work for the day. It was only after he assured to take steps when he was let go.

"The security in-charge has been taken off from duty till the probe is on. We will take all necessary steps to boost security," the Vice-Chancellor said adding that his primary job is to restore normalcy in the campus.