SAU suspends hostel warden and another staffer after student alleges bid to suppress sexual assault

The order added, “Dr. Kajori Bhatnagar, Assistant Warden, shall take over the charge of Warden and discharge the responsibilities associated with the post until further orders.”

In a separate order issued the same day, SAU said, “Consequent to the Committee’s discussion, Ms. Anupma Arora, Assistant II (Girls Hostel) (Outsourced), is suspended till the submission of the Enquiry Report.” Both orders state they were issued “with approval of the Competent Authority”.

The action comes after a student, in her statement to the police, alleged that hostel authorities attempted to manage the situation internally after she was found disoriented near a construction zone on the campus. In her police complaint, she said she was told by hostel staff to change clothes and take a bath, and was discouraged from contacting her family. “They said they will call the PRO and handle it internally,” she alleged.

Threat to circulate morphed photo

The disciplinary action follows an FIR registered by Delhi Police on Tuesday, in which the student said she received a series of emails and texts on an encrypted messaging app warning that a morphed nude photograph of her would be circulated if she did not comply with instructions to reach an isolated part of campus.

The student told the police that she walked alone towards the convocation centre area around 8 pm, describing the stretch as “dark and empty at night”. According to her account, four men approached her and attempted to overpower her. She alleged they tried to pull her clothes, covered her eyes, hit her, and forced a pill into her mouth before fleeing when a food cart staffer appeared nearby.

A classmate alerted the police after she could not be reached for nearly two hours. When a PCR unit arrived, students had already located her near the open-air theatre. She was taken to a hostel room briefly before being transported under police escort to a Delhi hospital for examination.

Students stage sit-in

The incident triggered an immediate mobilisation of students on Monday night, who staged a sit-in along the administrative corridor, demanding the suspension of the hostel warden and the inclusion of student representatives in any inquiry committee.

On Tuesday, the university posted on social media, “We the SAU community, faculty, staff and students stand in solidarity in light of the alleged horrific act of sexual violence that has been reported on campus… SAU has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and all forms of violence against women.”

Delhi Police said they were examining CCTV footage, guard entry logs, and the internet protocol trail of the emails sent to the student.
“The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation is being conducted with due sensitivity and priority,” said Ankit Chauhan, DCP, South.

From the homepage

India responds to Trump’s claim on Russian oil: No conversation between PM Modi and US President yesterday

Kapil Sharma’s cafe attacked for the third time in Surrey

Assam Police to head to Singapore over Zubeen’s death probe