Shillong (Meghalaya ), Nov 21: The North-Eastern Hill University Students Union (NEHUSU) has demanded from the NEHU, VC immediate termination of service of Asst Director, Nantu Das who is accused of rape & sexual assault of one female employee in in the university campus.
In a press note, NEHUSA , stated that there have been numerous cases that have come up against the accused person Nantu Das, in-charge of security & Asst. Director of Sports Department Nehu with a complaint letter addressed to the NEHUSU.
On examination by the NEHUSU these followed up complaints have been found that the accused has been indulged in multiple instances of sexual misconduct where victims have been struck with fear in disclosing their identity to the public eye.
Following the incident, there has also been reports by students especially the research scholars saying that their guides have been indulging in such shameful acts.
NEHUSU has received several other complaints of sexual misconduct from various students. which have proved that moral policing mechanisms like hostel curfew, evening security patrolling and so on has proven to be ineffective rather counter-productive and led to further desertion of university streets in the evening which made it unsafe for students to stroll, the press -note said.
The press -note added that there is desperate need for gender sensitization in the campus of the students, faculty and the staffs and a need to sensitize the university community of consent, boundaries and what constitutes harassment.
NEHUSU in the coming days will initiate the process of gender sensitization through workshops, seminars, lectures and most importantly the formation of gender sensitization committee which shall take up the cases of sexual violence, violation of consent and shall also take up various activities of sensitization.
NEHUSA feels that more cases of sexual misconduct are bound to come up in the public domain in the coming days as the students are becoming more and more empowered due to the support and solidarity shown to them by the student community and the Union.
The press note said that NEHUSU is committed to eradicate these shameful acts by any staff, administration officials or faculties towards any students and demands action against rape accused staff.