Hours after a complaint was lodged by a female student about alleged sexual harassment, authorities at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) in Sopore ordered enquiry into the matter and put the accused professor under suspension.
An official told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that a female student of SKUAST Wadoora Sopore campus alleged that she was sexually harassed by a professor in the campus following which students of the varsity staged a protest demonstration, seeking a stern action against the guilty.
“Considering that such acts do not happen again, we want termination of the accused professor,” said one of the female protesting students wishing not to be named.
Following the incident, SKUAST authority issued an order states the pending enquiry into the matter of alleged misconduct, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Prof. Et Head, Division of Agri. “Extension and Communication, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect. He shall remain attached with KVK, Pombai, Kulgam,” order reads.
“Consequent upon above, the charge of Head, Division of Agri. Extension and Communication shall remain with Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura till further orders,” the order reads.
The Dean faculty in a separate order said that till the pending enquiry into the matter, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar coordinate RAWE, program, is hereby removed from the said assignment with immediate effect and the charge of coordinate RAWE shall remain order me.
Deputy commissioner Baramulla Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar also confirmed that police has registered FIR in the matter and the accused professor has been suspended pending inquiry.
Notably, a few days ago a female student of GDC Sopore had claimed a similar allegation against a professor in which the college authorities submitted a report to the government after inquiring into the matter.
(KNS).