Molestation survivor’s dad blames Jadavpur VC

KOLKATA: The father of the August 28 molestation —survivor at Jadavpur University blames vice-chancellor Abhijit Chakraborty for the brutal assault on —students and wants chief minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene.
“The way these students were manhandled, I can’t imagine what their parents must be going through. While seeking justice for one molested girl, 16 girls got molested.When I met the VC for the first time, on September 1, he said at the onset that if he takes any action he will be gheraoed. I had said, in that case, why couldn’t he call police to rescue him? He replied the authorities can’t call the police on campus as it will tarnish JU’s image. What changed in the next two weeks?” he asked
The girl’s father told the VC that he was afraid to send his daughter to campus because the culprits had not been punished and there was no assurance of security. “He told me the university can’t ensure security for anyone on campus. When I asked why the hostel superintendent, who witnessed the assault on my daughter, wasn’t called to identify the culprits, he replied, ‘Or praner maya nei?’ (Doesn’t he value his life?),” he said.
The agitation to demand justice for this girl led to the recent police assault on campus. Students have been protesting against the “insensitive” handling of the girl’s complaint after two members of the internal probe panel allegedly sought to pin the blame on her.
The father said: “On September 12, two probe members came to our home when I was out. They asked irrelevant questions, like what kind of a dress she was wearing. We filed a general diary at Bidhannagar police station the next day.”
He accuses the VC of prolonging the inquiry to bury the issue. Despite repeated calls, Chakraborty couldn’t be reached.
The girl’s father says that when they last visited the campus the last time, on September 15, the students were peaceful. “They had no weapons, only guitars. The next night, the police assault happened. Watching the video clips on TV, my daughter was shattered. The girl whose dress was ripped is a dear friend of her,” the father added.