Principal ‘molests’ college student

Acting swiftly,the Kharar police arrested Dr Amal Raj on charges of assault,outraging a woman’s modesty,wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation under Sections 354,342 and 506 of the IPC,said Sub-Inspector Dalbeer Singh.

The college management soon followed suit and placed Dr Raj under suspension. The complaint has been referred to the college’s Sexual Harassment Grievances Cell for inquiry,said Chief Administrator of the college,Jeet Singh.

According to reports,a close relative of the complainant also assaulted Dr Raj in his office this morning. The cornered director-principal submitted a complaint of assault against the girl’s kin to the college management,which was later forwarded to the police. However,S-I Singh claimed he had not received any such complaint yet.

To express solidarity with the victim,a hosteller whose parents are settled abroad,the college students resorted to a strike and pelted the director-principal’s office with stones.

The student has alleged that on April 3,Dr Raj called her to his office after classes on the pretext of discussing her short attendance. “There he subjected her to molestation and sexual harassment but she managed to run away,” recollected the student’s brother-in-law Nirmaldeep Singh,a resident of Kharar,with whom she is staying at present. Singh alleged that the accused threatened them with dire consequences when he accompanied his sister-in-law to discuss the matter. He also admitted to exchanging a few blows with the accused.

Although the charges against Dr Raj are bailable,he was kept in custody for interrogation till the filing of this report,confirmed the police officer.