Former DU employee who attempted immolation dies
8 Oct 2013 12:22 AM GMT
A week after she set herself on fire in front of the Delhi Secretariat, a former employee of Delhi University succumbed to her burn injuries at Lok Nayak Hospital early morning on Monday. She had set herself ablaze over the alleged sexual harassment by the principal of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College.
The family of Pavitra Bharadwaj (36), the deceased, demanded immediate arrest of the college principal for pushing her to commit suicide. Alok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), said, ‘We are examining the evidences against the principal. Unless we get concrete evidences against him, he cannot be detained. Following Bharadwaj’s death, we will be questioning him and the DU administration again. The body has been sent for post-mortem.’
Speaking to Millennium Post, college principal GK Arora said, ‘God is with me and I have full faith in the law that will prove me innocent. Two years ago also a high-powered committee had examined the charges leveled by Bharadwaj against me and found them to be false. After that her termination was recommended.’ Bharadwaj, who was a resident of north-east Delhi’s Maujpur, was a laboratory attendant in BR Amedkar College.
After her termination, Bhardwaj had approached the Women’s Commission and a few NGOs but not with much success. On 30 September, she immolated herself.
Devender Sharma (Bharadwaj’s husband), a head constable in Delhi police’s communication department in Seemapuri, said, ‘I will fight for justice. Her soul won’t get peace until the principal and the college staff get punishment.’ Meanwhile, Alka Sharma, Registrar of Delhi University, said ‘Though the matter is within the purview of the college governance, we have sought a report on the incident from the governing body of the college to enable it to take further action in
matter.’
The family of Pavitra Bharadwaj (36), the deceased, demanded immediate arrest of the college principal for pushing her to commit suicide. Alok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), said, ‘We are examining the evidences against the principal. Unless we get concrete evidences against him, he cannot be detained. Following Bharadwaj’s death, we will be questioning him and the DU administration again. The body has been sent for post-mortem.’
Speaking to Millennium Post, college principal GK Arora said, ‘God is with me and I have full faith in the law that will prove me innocent. Two years ago also a high-powered committee had examined the charges leveled by Bharadwaj against me and found them to be false. After that her termination was recommended.’ Bharadwaj, who was a resident of north-east Delhi’s Maujpur, was a laboratory attendant in BR Amedkar College.
After her termination, Bhardwaj had approached the Women’s Commission and a few NGOs but not with much success. On 30 September, she immolated herself.
Devender Sharma (Bharadwaj’s husband), a head constable in Delhi police’s communication department in Seemapuri, said, ‘I will fight for justice. Her soul won’t get peace until the principal and the college staff get punishment.’ Meanwhile, Alka Sharma, Registrar of Delhi University, said ‘Though the matter is within the purview of the college governance, we have sought a report on the incident from the governing body of the college to enable it to take further action in
matter.’
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