An assistant professor at NIT Silchar, D Koteswara Raju, was arrested by police on Friday for allegedly sexually harassing and molesting a female student in Cachar district, Assam.
The professor was suspended by NIT Silchar hours before his arrest, following a formal complaint from the student. According to her account, Raju called her to his chamber under the pretext of discussing her low marks and harassed her physically, including touching her thighs, belly, neck, and lips. The student stated that he implied her marks could improve if she complied with his demands. She escaped when a friend called her during the incident.
The allegations prompted student protests demanding the professor’s removal, which were later called off after authorities assured them of his suspension. Students also claimed this was the second official complaint against Raju, with a previous accusation in 2021 dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Following the suspension, police questioned Raju extensively at Ghungoor Police Outpost before transferring him to Silchar Sadar Police Station. The institute’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act has initiated a probe, and the professor’s chamber has been sealed.
Raju has been teaching at NIT Silchar since 2018, and the fresh allegations highlight ongoing concerns about student safety and accountability within educational institutions.
