This is an archive article published on February 21, 2016
Two ‘molested’ on Pondicherry university campus, students protest
Two students of Pondicherry Central University were reportedly molested by unidentified persons on campus in two separate instances on Friday evening, triggering protests by students that lasted through the night. While one of the students has refused to complain, reportedly out of fear, the administration has filed a complaint with the local police on behalf […]
E N Jishnu, secretary of the university Students’ Council, said the two assaulters were on the campus for more than six hours, and abused women students orally too. (Source: PTI)
Two students of Pondicherry Central University were reportedly molested by unidentified persons on campus in two separate instances on Friday evening, triggering protests by students that lasted through the night.
While one of the students has refused to complain, reportedly out of fear, the administration has filed a complaint with the local police on behalf of the second student.
According to a friend of the second girl, the post-graduate student was going to her hostel from the library when two persons came on a two-wheeler and assaulted her right in front of the girls’ hostel. The first incident also happened around the same time.
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E N Jishnu, secretary of the university Students’ Council, said the two assaulters were on the campus for more than six hours, and abused women students orally too.
“We reported this to the security, but they did not take action. This is not the first incident here and we suspect the hand of insiders,” he said.
University Vice Chancellor in-charge Anisa B Khan said they had filed a complaint and the police were verifying CCTV footage. Khan was appointed the Vice Chancellor in-charge after V-C Chandra Krishnamurthy was forced to go on leave over alleged forgery and plagiarism.
Saying that things have finally begun to settle down at the university, a senior faculty member said “criminal elements” could be behind the “molestation” incident on campus.
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“Khan has taken all possible steps to restore the system but is unable to bring stability as she is not permanent. She doesn’t have the support of the entire administration, as the former vice-chancellor is still not sacked,” said a senior administrator.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More