Police on Thursday arrested a guest lecturer of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya for allegedly harassing and sexually assaulting minor girl students.
The accused Shatrughna Samal, who worked in the college’s department of drama, was also dismissed from service. The action was taken after students held a massive protest on the campus earlier in the day alleging Samal had been sexually harassing them and threatening to reduce their marks if they opposed his advances.
They also claimed that Samal used obscene language while speaking with some students over phone on a regular basis, and also sexually assaulted some of them. Samal’s purported phone call recordings with some students also went viral on the day.
On getting information, special secretary, Culture department Deba Prasad Dash reached the spot and held discussion with the protesting students. Soon after the meeting, the department dismissed Samal from service.
Speaking to TNIE, Dash said Samal had been selected for the post of guest lecturer by the internal selection committee of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya and was working in the department of drama for the last six months. “He has not only been dismissed from service but also blacklisted from getting a job in any institution in the future,” Dash added.
The special secretary informed that though the college has an internal complaints committee (ICC), students never approached it for the fear that the lecturer might take coercive action against them. “We asked the students to not be afraid and approach the college principal, ICC or the Culture department to lodge a complaint against Samal,” he said.
Dash further added that the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has already initiated steps to recruit teachers for Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.
“We received a complaint from the students following which the accused was arrested and produced in court. Further probe is underway,” said Kharavela Nagar IIC Rajanikanta Mishra.
