Agencies

Bhubaneswar, May 15: Even as medical students across the country protest against reservations, students in Orissa's Utkal University are fighting a battle of their own - against sexual harassment.

Girls in the university have levelled charges of sexual harassment against three professors.

They stated that they had been physically abused on the pretext of being given better marks and superior job recommendations.

Girls also said that this is not the first time something like this has happened and that this has been going on for some time.

The incident had come to light a week ago when six girls of a diploma course run by the psychology department made a formal complaint to university authorities and the chairperson of the anti-sexual harassment cell.

"Professors offer the students good marks if they give in to sexual demands. They are on look out for girls who are innocent and not outspoken," said a former student of the university, Swagitika.

Many girls have suffered the indignity in silence in the past, students alleged, while demanding stern action against the accused professors.

One of the accused professors was suspended and then arrested by the police after students filed a formal complaint with the police.

"A complaint of sexual harassment was forwarded to us against three professors and we registered a case. We investigated and found out that the charges levelled against one of the professors were indeed genuine. He has been placed under arrest," said Superintendent Police, Khurda Amitabh Thakur.

The professor was arrested on charges of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and atrocity even as actions on two other professors whose names have figured in the scandal have been withheld for the moment.

The anti-sexual harassment cell of the Utkal University is also looking into the matter even as the students of the university are planning to go on a protest march demanding prompt action.