Andhra Uni Sanskrit Prof accused of sexual harassment, ‘manhandled’ on campus

The incident came to light after five women came forward with complaints.

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Students from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam on Monday reportedly manhandled the head of the Sanskrit department, identified as Professor K Yedukondalu, after multiple women students complained that he was sexually harassing them.

Quoting sources, Deccan Chronicle reported that the professor allegedly asked the women to meet him personally to collect their hall tickets for the Sanskrit exams. When they refused, he did not allow them to write the exam.

As many as 12 of the 20 students in the class attended classes regularly but only three were allowed to take the exam, the DC report adds.

The incident came to light after five women complained to the student association, which staged a protest on campus.

"The professor had gone to the extent of asking sexual favours in return for good marks and covering up minor attendance shortage. He would not hesitate to use phrases such as ‘I like you’ or ‘I love you’ and would ask us to come to his room in private for special classes," a PG student told The Hindu.

Yedukondalu is also a repeat offender, as he had tried to shield a research scholar who had allegedly sought sexual favour from a female student in 2014. A four-member committee was formed, and the professor was suspended from administrative posts for two years. Despite this, he was reappointed as the head of the Sanskrit department in 2016.

“Earlier also a committee gave warning to the professor. We will resolve the issue and punish the guilty as early as possible. But, we condemn attacks on the campus without proper complaints to the principal. Students should not take the law into their own hands,” Andhra University registrar V Umamaheswar Rao told Deccan Chronicle.

This is also not the first such incident on campus, as two noted professors from the oceanography and economics departments were accused of sexual harassment in 2014, with the latter caught on tape.

After the incident surfaced, Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao ordered a probe, and asked the registrar to form a committee.

The varsity is presently making preparations to host the five-day Andhra Pradesh Science Congress, to begin on November 7.

The Andhra Pradesh Science Congress (APSC) is scheduled be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on November 7, at the University's convocation hall.