Andhra University professor ‘sexually harasses’ girls, gets beaten up

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedNov 7, 2017, 1:36 am IST

Andhra University teacher had asked female students to meet him personally.

Andhra University

Visakhapatnam: Andhra University students manhandled the head of the Sanskrit department, Prof. K. Yedukondalu, for allegedly sexually harassing female students.

Five women have complained to the student association that the professor misbehaved with them. On Monday, the students and the association’s leaders took the law into their own hands and attacked the professor on campus.

According to sources, Prof. Yedukondalu asked the women to meet him personally to collect their hall tickets for the MA Sanskrit semester-end exams.

When they refused to meet him, he did not allow them to write the exam, and showed that they did not have the required attendance.

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

Earlier, in 2014, the professor had tried to shield a research scholar, Sagar, who had reportedly sought sexual favours from a female student in exchange for better marks.

The professor was suspended from administrative posts for two years after a four-member committee confirmed that such behaviour was inappropriate.

Despite this, he was made head of the department in 2016.

According to sources, Prof Yedukondalu has been offering female students a chance to work in films through his contacts, and provide them financial assistance in exchange for sexual favours.

The students have complained to AU’s rector Prof K. Gayathri Devi and the vice-chancellor Prof G Nageswara Rao.

The university has said that a committee will be formed to enquire into the allegations and action would be taken against the professor,

Andhra University registrar V. Umamaheswar Rao said, “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.”