TRICHY: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Trichy is in the eye of storm lately after a contractual electrician was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a female student in her hostel room, triggering widespread protests on the campus.
The incident reportedly occurred on August 29th when the electrician, hired on a contractual basis to fix a Wi-Fi glitch in the Opal women’s hostel, entered the student’s room under the pretext of installing the system. The student alleged that the electrician sexually harassed her during this visit. Shocked and traumatized, she immediately fled her room and informed other students about the ordeal.
The situation escalated when the victim reported the incident to the hostel warden. Instead of receiving support, the warden allegedly blamed the student for her attire, effectively victim-shaming her. This response, along with the incident itself, ignited a protest among the student body, who demanded immediate action against the accused and better protection for female students on campus.
The protest, which began on August 29th, saw students raising their voices against the perceived negligence of the hostel authorities. They criticized the warden and staff for allowing a male technician into the women’s hostel unaccompanied by a female worker, a practice they believe should be strictly enforced to prevent such incidents. The students also condemned the warden’s response to the victim, stating that it further exacerbated the trauma she experienced.
As the protests gained momentum, students attempted to block the Trichy-Thanjavur road as a part of their demonstration. However, they were stopped by police and security guards, prompting them to continue their protests within the college premises. The students vowed to keep up their agitation until their demands for improved safety measures and accountability from the authorities were met.
In response to a formal complaint lodged by the victim’s parents, the Thiruverumbur All-Women Police Station registered a case against the accused. The electrician was subsequently arrested. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the need for stricter enforcement of the Nirbhaya Act and more robust measures to protect women from sexual harassment in educational institutions.
Sexual harassment in NIT Trichy: Students hold all-night protest outside women’s hostel, @NidharshanaR reports#NITTrichy #sexualharassment #news #TamilNadu https://t.co/Gfn19cuBG7
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) August 30, 2024
Following a recent incident of sexual harassment at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy, campus protests have led to the arrest of the accused, a contract electrician named Kathiresan. The incident, which involved Kathiresan allegedly harassing a female student in her hostel room, sparked outrage among students, prompting them to stage a protest demanding justice and improved safety measures.
The protests, which began after the victim reported the harassment, were met with swift intervention from local authorities. Trichy Superintendent of Police V. Varun Kumar and NIT Trichy Director G. Akila engaged in talks with the agitated students. The students insisted that no punitive action be taken against them for participating in the protest. In response, the hostel warden expressed regret over the incident, leading to the students calling off their demonstration.
A case was subsequently registered against Kathiresan, who was arrested and produced before the Trichy Sixth Criminal Court. He is currently lodged in Trichy Central Jail. District Collector Pradip Kumar acknowledged security lapses within the hostel, including non-functional CCTV cameras, which likely contributed to the incident.
This is not the first time NIT Trichy has faced security concerns. In 2019, a female student was raped by a local rowdy after being locked out of her hostel for returning after curfew. The rowdy assaulted her and her male friend at a bus stop where they had sought shelter. The Mahila Court later sentenced the perpetrator to 15 years in prison.
In a separate case in Coimbatore district, four temporary teaching staff members of the Government Arts and Science College in Valparai were arrested on August 31st on charges of sexually harassing at least six female students. The accused—Assistant Professors S. Satheeskumar and M. Muraliraj, Lab Assistant Anbarasu, and Skill Course Trainer N. Rajapandi—were reported to have sent inappropriate messages to the students via social media and harassed them during classes and lab sessions. The arrests followed a complaint lodged by District Social Welfare Officer R. Ambika, after which the four were remanded in custody by a magistrate on September 1st.
In another unrelated incident, a policeman named Kamalakannan was arrested for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a young woman at Saidapet Railway Station on August 25th. The officer, who was reportedly intoxicated at the time, tried to misbehave with the woman while she was talking to her friends.
