Finally, IIT-B seeks to soothe tense students’ nerves
Finally, the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) authorities have broken their silence on the recent unfortunate molestation incident.
Finally, the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) authorities have broken their silence on the recent unfortunate molestation incident. Aimed at allaying the students’ fears and worries, the IIT-B authorities in an e-mail to the students on Thursday morning narrated the incident and assured them of necessary action to prevent a repeat.
Earlier this week, Sauri Vardharajan, a 57-year-old non-teaching staffer of the premier technological institute was suspended after he drugged a 27-year-old PhD student of the institute allegedly for molesting her in his staff quarters. While the accused has been placed under arrest, the victim is still recovering at the institute’s in-house hospital.
Ever since the girl’s friends along with IIT-B sercurity guards broke open the staffer’s door to find her heavily sedated, there has been confusion among the students, lack of clarity and scant information on the case being the major reasons. However, on Thursday morning, students received the assuring email.
A student said, “While confirming the incident initially, the email asks students to not worry. Also, it narrates all the appropriate legal actions that have been taken in the case.” Even as the email has once again restarted talk about the incident on the campus. A student shared that “the incident happened at the staff quarters which has lesser security compared to the residence area of students”. Also, “with the prime minister coming over to the campus for convocation ceremony on Saturday, preparations for the same have diverted the focus a bit”, commented another.
Strangely, however, the institute’s email has retained its earlier reply in which they have only mentioned having recovered the victim at Vardharajan’s house. In fact, the email tells students not to rely on inconsistent media reports, which reflected a difference of opinions in different reports. “It would not be surprising if this email is followed by more instructions on moral policing. The security is already strict inside campus, it might get even stricter,” a student quipped.