Dalit groups in Jammu are up in arms after an associate professor from the community committed suicide following complaints of sexual harassment against him.

Officials said Chander Shekhar, 45, an associate professor in Jammu University’s psychology department, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence on Wednesday.

An official said a note was recovered from the room which said the allegations against him were false and motivated.

“Saddened by the suicide…. Foul play and administrative malice sensed. Request LG to set CBI enquiry, pay heed to the matter,” R.K. Kalsotra, state president of the All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations, tweeted.

Police said Shekhar, who hailed from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, was working in the university for the past 15 years.

Prakash Anthal, the dean of students’ welfare at the university, said 20 to 22 students had lodged a written complaint of sexual harassment against him on September 1.

Anthal said the academic was placed under suspension based on the initial inquiry report. “The students had recorded a statement on video. The committee (investigating the case) suspended him and he was asked to discontinue teaching, till the final inquiry,” he said.

“He went into his room and locked it from inside. I received a call and at the same time, I sent our chief security officer to find out what has happened. They broke the door and found him hanging,” Anthal added.

Bishop raid

Jabalpur: The Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing on Thursday conducted searches at the office and residence of the bishop of the Jabalpur Diocese of the Church of North India, P.C. Singh, against whom a cheating case has been registered in connection with alleged swindling of student fees, an EOW officer said.

PTI