After Aman Kachroo ragging,sexual harassment at Tanda college

Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda,where Aman Kachroo was ragged to death,is in a fresh controversy.

Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda,which hogged headlines after the ragging death of Aman Kachroo,is in a fresh controversy.

Barely four days after a court sentenced four students of the premier institution of Himachal Pradesh to four years in jail for Kachroos death,a case of alleged sexual harassment of girl students has come to light.

A student,Ashish Saklani,has been suspended from the college as well the hostel after he allegedly posted some indecent remarks about four female classmates on the social networking site Facebook.

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The girls complained to Principal Dr Anil Chauhan who immediately took action. Chauhan referred the matter to an inquiry panel headed by Dr Sita Thakur,head of Gynecology Department,which confirmed the charges and endorsed the Principals action.

Coincidentally,Saklani was one of Kachroos roommates and a key witness in the ragging death case. He had provided material evidence to the court that sentenced four students to jail on November 11. This is one of those incidents the college will not condone. We have already learnt some lessons. Indiscipline and laxity on the part of the college had resulted in an unsavoury ragging case last year, said Dr Chauhan. I have taken all senior faculty members and also some parents into confidence to deal sternly with all cases of indiscipline,especially sexual harassment.

The principal said the college has brought out a 46-page glossary Anti-Ragging Regulatory Measures and Hostel Rules and proposes to frame firm guidelines to deal with cases of sexual harassment.

The latest case came to light on November 2 after four girls submitted a written complaint along with certain proof about Ashish Saklanis alleged indecent remarks against them. Later,sensing trouble,Saklani removed the comments from Facebook.

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The trouble has not ended here as State Women Commission Ambika Sood has sought a full report on the incident and action taken by the college authorities.

Sood said she would like the college authorities not to end the matter with suspension of the students for six months. She said the case should be taken to its logical end and punishment should be severe,including expulsion of the accused from the institution.

I feel satisfied but ask the Principal to act firmly since the college has already been put in bad light after Aman Kachroos death. Such incidents should not recur, she said.