NIT Silchar professor suspended over sexual harassment charges

According to an order issued by the institute's registrar, Dr Koteswara Raju Dhenukonda of the Electrical Engineering Department was suspended with immediate effect, on the basis of a complaint by a student of Bachelor of Technology.

The move came as students held an overnight protest demanding an action against the professor.

The victim alleged that she was sexually harassed when the professor called her to his chamber. 

In a written complaint to the institute authorities, the woman said the professor touched her inappropriately after summoning her to his chamber under the pretext of discussing her low grades.

"He asked me to sit beside him... and asked me why I get less marks. He started holding my hands and touching my fingers. He then gradually held my thighs. He then started playing vulgar songs in his computer in front of me... touched my stomach and rubbed my stomach. I started crying but he did not stop. He asked me to feel comfortable and spread my legs properly. He then grabbed my neck from behind and kept holding it," the letter, which has gone viral, said.

The victim said she could escape only after her friend, who was waiting outside the cabin, gave her a call.

"This is an incident of molestation and mental and sexual harassment," she said.

The registrar said the chamber where the alleged incident occurred has been "sealed". "All necessary support is extended to the victim so that she feels safe & comfortable," the notice said.