Jadavpur University has barred a postgraduate student in humanities from entering the campus after his name cropped up in a complaint of alleged harassment that led to the death of an undergraduate student.
The university has asked its internal complaints committee to probe the complaint that mentions two men.
Since the second accused, a PhD scholar, teaches at a college outside Bengal and does not come to the campus regularly, no restraint order has been issued against him, said a JU official.
“But his role will also be probed by the internal complaints committee,” the official said.
The student who has been barred from entering the campus is pursuing a master’s course. He has been asked to vacate the New Boys’ Hostel, which is located on the campus.
The undergraduate student committed suicide at her home in Jalpaiguri on January 18 and her parents accused the two of harassment in their complaint sent to the university.
“A student, who is pursuing master’s, has been barred (from entering the campus) till the investigation is over,” said JU registrar Snehamanju Basu.
“The decision was taken at a meeting attended by the heads of all departments, the deans and other officials of the university on Wednesday afternoon. They went
through the complaint submitted by the parents of the deceased.”
The parents mentioned in their letter of complaint, addressed to pro-vice-chancellor Amitava Datta, that their daughter had told them in early January that the postgraduate student and the PhD scholar used to torture her mentally, officials said.
The parents have also lodged a complaint with Mal police station in Jalpaiguri district.
“As the vice-chancellor has not been attending office for over a month, the letter was addressed to the pro-VC. The parents have demanded that the university take action against the two accused,” said an official at JU.
“We are in touch with officers at Mal police station, who have launched an investigation.”
Manojit Mandal, a teacher at JU’s English department and member of the university’s executive council, said: “The victim wrote the end-semester exams on January 16 before leaving for Jalpaiguri. Her death has left us shocked. We want a proper probe.”
The student who has been prevented from entering the campus said: “A police complaint was filed after the death. How could the university take any action against me before the probe is over? If I am barred from entering the campus, how will I write the exams in February.... The allegations of mental torture are not true.”
The second accused could not be reached for comment.