Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Narendra Kerekadu
Mangalore, Jul 26: The case relating to the allegation of sexual harassment levelled against a lecturer of St Raymond's PU College located at Vamanjoor on the outskirts of the city is getting murkier by the day. The lecturer in question, Harish Acharya (37) from Kalladka, who went missing after the allegations surfaced, has not been found ever since he left home.
Acharya has switched off his cell phone. He left his home without taking along anything other than the clothes worn by him and his cell phone. The police have formed different teams to examine the case from various angles to unearth the truth.
Acharya, serving Raymond's PU College as Kannada lecturer since the last 12 years, has been accused by a PU student of meting out sexual harassment. The girl had claimed that he used to send obscene messages to her cell phone, and also charged him of subjecting her to sexual assaults a number of times in college premises. As soon as the girl filed a complaint in this connection at Kankanady police station here, Acharya went missing.
The management of the college and many who know Acharya well vouch for his integrity, character, and high discipline. After a case was registered against him on Monday evening, he visited his home, where he resides with his mother, alone. He left home after informing his mother that he will never return home. He did not take anything else while leaving, and his mother is left sobbing inconsolably and shedding tears all alone at home.
Before he went missing, Acharya reportedly called a few of his close friends and told them that a conspiracy had been hatched to defame him because he mingled well with students and insisted on maintaining discipline. 'I never have committed any wrong. I have always behaved well with everyone. You have seen how my character is being assassinated on television. This is the last call you will ever receive from me, and I will not disturb you people henceforth,' he told his friends. However, when they tried to contact him, his phone was found switched off.
Harish was the National Service Scheme (NSS) in-charge at the college, and was very popular among the students. He had successfully organized a number of NSS camps. There were times when he was left to manage the entire college on his own, and he was never found wanting in discharging his responsibilities. The college management has solidly stood behind him, and has accused the student of reacting in an adverse manner to the discipline imposed on students by the missing lecturer. The managing committee of the college has said that it would prefer to extend wholehearted cooperation to police investigation instead of choosing to conduct an internal inquiry.
The students of the college are divided in their opinion over the issue. Some have extended support to the girl student, while others are stoic in their strong support of the lecturer. The lecturer, who could have provided answers and clarifications to allegations and suspicions, is not to be found anywhere. Some even question the reason for his disappearance if he was innocent. Some have also charged Acharya of committing a heinous crime being a lecturer, as teachers are expected to guide and mould the the students into good citizens of the country.
The educational institution which Harish Acharya served, wants him to muster courage, not to own cowardice, and face the investigations without fear. No one knows what twist this case will acquire with each passing day.
As Acharya's cell phone remains switched off, the policemen of Kankanady had conducted tower location search, and found that the last time his cell phone was detected by a tower was near Manchi in Kukkaje. This area houses a large number of stone quarries, which are not only very deep, but also covered with standing water. Pramod Kumar, who has been given additional charge of sub-inspector of Kankanady police station, said when approached, that the department has been conducting detailed searches in this area since the last three days.
The policemen are not leaving any stone unturned in their efforts to trace the accused. The people and the police personnel alike wish that Acharya will surface soon, provide answers to the allegations made against him, and help the case to reach its logical conclusion.
Meanwhile, it has been reliably learnt that Harish is safe and sound, and he has applied for anticipatory bail. However, his whereabouts are still unknown.