HT Correspondent
KHERONI, March 27: A coalition of student and women’s organisations, including the Karbi Students Association (KSA), All India Students Association (AISA), Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA), Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA), and All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), staged a peaceful demonstration yesterday at the entrance gate of Assam University Diphu Campus (AUDC) on Thursday.
The protest was held to demand justice for a female student allegedly sexually harassed by Dr Anirudh Kumar, an Assistant Professor in the Hindi Department, who is currently under a six-month suspension pending an internal investigation.
Related Posts:
The demonstrating organisations expressed strong dissatisfaction with the university’s response, calling the six-month suspension inadequate and demanding Dr Kumar’s immediate dismissal and capital punishment for his alleged actions.
They argued that the current disciplinary measure fails to reflect the severity of the offense and leaves the victim without proper justice.
Additionally, the groups called for the urgent establishment of a “Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment” (GSCASH) at AUDC, Diphu to address and resolve sexual harassment cases effectively and ensure a safer environment for students.
Protesters highlighted that the victim has been subjected to significant psychological pressure under the guise of the ongoing investigation, accusing the administration of mishandling the process.
The unrest follows a memorandum submitted on March 11, 2025, by a joint delegation of KSA, KNCA, AISA, RYA, and AIPWA to the Pro-Vice Chancellor of AUDC and other authorities.
The memorandum reiterated their demand for Dr Kumar’s dismissal and criticised the administration’s reliance on an internal probe rather than taking decisive action.
Despite these efforts, the university has yet to respond to the escalated demands, fueling today’s protest.
The organisations vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met, emphasising the need for institutional accountability and a transparent, victim-centered process.
“We will not rest until justice is served and a proper system like GSCASH is in place to protect students,” an AIPWA representative stated.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed discussions on the prevalence of sexual harassment in educational institutions, with the protesting groups urging authorities to prioritise student safety and well-being over bureaucratic delays.
