DU forms panel to probe ‘assault’ on faculty member

  NEW DELHI

Amid mounting outrage on campus, the Delhi University on Friday constituted a six-member inquiry committee to probe the alleged assault of a faculty member by Deepika Jha, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader and joint secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU).

The incident has sparked widespread protests by students and teachers. In a statement, the university said that the committee has been formed to “investigate the physical assault on a faculty member” by Ms. Jha, and the Vice-Chancellor has directed it to submit a report within two weeks. The panel includes university officials and college principals.

A 32-second purported video from the Principal’s office of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, shows Ms. Jha slapping Professor Sujit Kumar on Thursday. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed ABVP stated that while they “respect teachers”, Ms. Jha’s act was a “spontaneous reaction against political bias and indiscipline”.

Mr. Kumar, a DU teacher for 32 years, told The Hindu that he had never faced such allegations before. He said a brawl broke out between the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the ABVP during a DUSU oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday, prompting him to stop the fight.

“The next day, students tried to attack me, but staff members shielded me. When the police intervened and we went into the Principal’s office, she [Ms. Jha] slapped me,” he recounted. Mr. Kumar said he was also forced to resign from the college’s disciplinary committee, which led other staff members to step down in solidarity.

‘Abused, threatened’

In her version, Ms. Jha claimed that Mr. Kumar “abused and threatened” her inside the Principal’s office. “He was staring at me in an inebriated state, and there was no action from the police officers present there. In a moment of outrage, I lifted my hand,” she said.

Mr. Kumar, however, said the confrontation had its roots in the disciplinary action that he took last month against three students for beating up another student. “Three students were suspended. I acted based on video evidence, irrespective of student affiliations. Since then, ABVP members have accused me of unfair action,” he said.

‘Misuse of authority’

The RSS-affiliated National Democratic Teachers’ Front (NDTF), which currently dominates the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), did not issue a statement. However, another faction of DUTA held a protest at North Campus, which was attended by several teachers across organisations. Yasha Yadav, a DUTA executive member, said, “The hooliganism of these students is condemnable. Are they really students? Where has our guru-shishya tradition gone?”

 Rahul Jhansla, DUSU vice-president from NSUI, said Ms. Jha’s act “exposed the true face of the ABVP”. Student groups, including the NSUI and the Students’ Federation of India, held protests on Friday, alleging a “pattern of intimidation and aggression by the ABVP”. “This reflects a growing misuse of authority by the ABVP, which believes that violence and coercion can replace dialogue and democratic functioning,” said Aahana, a DU student and SFI activist.