Odisha NIT sexual harassment row: Fact finding team to submit report in a week

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rourkela, May 26:

A day after students of National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Odisha’s Rourkela alleged sexual exploitation of a female security officer by the institution’s chief security officer, a five-member fact finding team will probe into the incident from today and submit a detailed report within a week.

However, the team has been asked to submit a preliminary report within two days.

Notably, the NIT students have alleged that a woman security officer was sexually harassed by institution’s chief security officer Balaram Champatiray. In order to cement their allegations, the students showed photographs and videos of the incident to media persons.

“We have strong videographic evidence of NIT security officer Champatiray sexually exploiting his female subordinates whom he is supposed to protect. That too inside NIT premises,” said a NIT student.

The students had on yesterday met NIT Director Sunil Kumar Sarangi demanding ouster of the chief security officer. Sarangi had said a committee will be formed to inquire into the allegations.

“A committee has to reach out to them and inquire if they had any such grievance to narrate. Only then will they reveal if they have been harassed. A fact finding committee can only find out what has really happened,” said Sarangi in his reactions on the allegations.

On the other hand, chief security officer Champatiray has termed the allegations as baseless. “I haven’t done anything to anyone either by using force or with consent. The allegations are absolutely baseless,” said Champatiray in his defence.