Staffers abused by college official

Two Dalit staff members working at Acharya Polytechnic College on Kanakapura Road have alleged that they were abused by a joint secretary of the institute. S Somashekara and Gugde Channaiah complained that the joint secretary C Nagaraj abused them in front of other staff members.

On February 8, the complainants were waiting for a bus near Somanahalli gate at 4.15pm when Nagaraj, who was heading towards Majestic on his vehicle, made caste-related slurs.

“The reason for him abusing us is that we did not respond to a memo he had sent to us. Nagaraj asked us to provide an explanation for not hiking the salaries of the staff in the college,” said Channaiah, who is part of the management committee.

“A protest was staged against Nagaraj in the college on Friday by the staff, following which the students were sent home,” said Somashekhara.

“He threatened me with dire consequences and abused me and this was in bad taste. As it was a bus stop, the people who were present there are witnesses. We were humiliated in front of them,” said Somashekhara.

Though the incident was brought to the notice of the education trust, president, vice-president, governing chairman and other authorities, no action was initiated against Nagaraj, said Somashekara in his complaint.