EFLU sexual assault: NCW seeks report from Telangana DGP within 7 days amidst complaints of professors threatening students

While the VC was reported saying that the ICC had submitted its inquiry report, the women's collective said the body was non-autonomous since it has administrative officials as members.

Ajay Tomar

Published Oct 26, 2023 | 5:50 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 26, 2023 | 6:04 PM

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has directed Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar to conduct a “free and fair time-bound investigation” into the alleged instance of sexual assault on the campus of the Hyderabad-based English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU).

It has also asked the DGP to submit the “action report” by Monday, 30 October.

Also read: Sexual assault: EFLU faculty turns up heat on varsity, backs students

NCW writes to Telangana DGP

The commission said CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP V Sivadasan from Kerala brought the matter to its notice.

NCW letter to Telangana DGP over sexual assault. (Supplied)

“Two unknown assailants, within the campus sexually and physically assaulted a girl. It has been alleged that the incident happened against the backdrop of continuing protests by the students for reconstituting the hitherto inactive internal committee for gender sensitization to deal with cases of sexual harassment on campus,” the NCW said.

It also noted the allegations that university security staff “roughly handled” the students during their protest.

“There are complaints that instead of addressing the just demands of the students, the administration is trying to muzzle their voices,” the NCW stated in its letter.

It requested the Telangana DGP to conduct an impartial inquiry, take appropriate action against the alleged suspects and ensure the safety of students.

Related: Police book 11 EFLU students after proctor says they abused him

WCE on VC and ICC

On 24 October, the EFLU’s Vice-Chancellor (VC) E Suresh Kumar claimed that there was no disturbance in the university and the campus was peaceful and in order.

He added that the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the EFLU had conducted an inquiry and submitted its report.

Students protesting at the EFLU over the sexual assault incident. (Supplied)

Condemning the VC’s statement, the EFLU’s Women’s Collective, in an unsigned statement, alleged what the VC defined as “peaceful” was just a state of extensive fear that has gripped the campus.

It added that the students have been scared to “voice dissent” after the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent events of sexual assault and police brutality have only worsened the matter.

“If students gather at one place for some time in groups of more than three, the guards would start questioning them. The campus is currently virtually empty, and police officers are around every corner,” the collective said.

“Lights have been installed in the already well-lit spaces. There have been no attempts to install lights or CCTV cameras at the scene of the assault. Most public spaces inside the campus have been rendered inaccessible to students through vague circulars and verbal orders,” it claimed.

About the ICC, the collective claimed that it flouted the UGC Guidelines which state that, “persons in senior administrative positions in the HEI (Higher Educational Institutions) such as Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Registrar, Deans, Heads of Departments and others should not be members of ICCs to ensure autonomy of their functioning.

“Professor Anjali Bagde is the presiding officer of the ICC and also Dean of the School of European Languages, which is a violation. It once again raises questions about the transparency of the investigation and the power dynamics involved,” the collective said in a statement.

Also read: EFLU students weigh options after SPARSH protests

Professors threatening students

The collective also claimed that “certain professors” have been calling students at odd hours and intimidating those standing in solidarity with the sexual assault survivor.

It alleged that the professors and students who went through the CCTV footage on the day following the assault have not been contacted in the course of the investigation. The VC had claimed that they were being contacted.

EFLU students take out a march during a recent protest. (Supplied)

“The EFLU administration’s lack of maintaining transparency in this case is, therefore, a matter of serious concern for all the students,” the WCE said.

Protests rocked the EFLU on 16 October after the students demanded for the reconstitution of the now-defunct anti-sexual harassment committee SPARSH.

However, on the night of 18 October a post-graduate student said she was allegedly assaulted by two men near the old health centre area inside the varsity premises after which students staged a demonstration.

The next day, the EFLU proctor T Samson lodged an FIR stating that the 11 students provoked other “200” students and allegedly “promoted enmity” and “incited violence” while protesting regarding the sexual assault incident in front of his residence.

He added that the Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF) planned to conduct a programme in support of Palestine on the EFLU campus to flare communal tensions and create disharmony.

Samson also claimed that the students used physical force, abused him, and prevented him from accessing drinking water or washroom facilities.

Also read: EFLU student sexually assaulted on campus

Faculty turns up heat

The EFLU faculty members, on 23 October, came out in support of students over the alleged sexual assault incident.

In a joint statement, the faculty members expressed pain over the insensitivity of some of the university authorities and condemned the actions of Proctor T Samson.

EFLU students sitting on a protest demanding a probe into the sexual assault incident. (Supplied)

“The statement by professors speaks volumes. The environment in the university is such that whoever questions the vice-chancellor’s actions is either thrown out or transferred to Shillong or Lucknow. Some others have even lost their jobs. There is no freedom of speech in the university,” a professor told South First earlier, requesting anonymity.

Noting that Proctor Samson “officially summoned” the two professors — who were named in the police FIR — in the wee hours of 19 October to assist him in addressing the situation, the faculty said the two were being accused of instigating the students against proctor based on fabricated and fanciful statements.”

The proctor in his complaint said that students had forced him to call BS Sherin, an associate professor from the Department of Comparative Literature and India Studies, and Ipshita Chanda, a professor from the same department, and urged him to join the protest, which to him, seemed “highly dubious”.

Accusing the proctor of leaking the phone numbers of the faculty members, they said: “We see this police complaint as a breach of trust among colleagues who were involved in the matter only upon the proctor’s request.”

Meanwhile, the varsity on 22 October announced an extension of holidays from 24 October to 29 October, which the students called it a “strategy” to divert attention from the protests and the alleged sexual assault.

Anti-sexual harassment cell: HCU students want ICC dumped, GS-CASH back

Kerala MPs intervene

EFLU has a large number of students from Kerala. Several of them have been active in the recent protests.

As per reports, at least six of the 11 students booked were from Kerala.

John Brittas, Rajya Sabha MP, wrote a letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding the EFLU issue. (Supplied)

In this regard, at least five parliamentarians from Kerala wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding his immediate intervention in the “sexual assault” case. They also took the incident to the notice of the National Women’s Commission (NCW).

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