The Hindu : Palani women students still under `threat'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Palani women students still under `threat'

By Our Staff Reporter

PALANI MARCH 13. Threat to students of the Arulmigu Palani Andavar Arts College for Women, particularly to those who deposed before the DRO for an inquiry against the management, continues.

The college was closed on January 13 following disturbances over a controversy that sexual favours were provided to a National Assessment and Accreditation team for securing accreditation for the college. The college reopened on March 10.

The first victim was a second year literature student, Thara, resident of Kodangipatti in Pollachi taluk. In a petition to the Collector yesterday, Thara's father, K.T. Muralidharan said her daughter, studying literature, was forced by the principal and hostel in-charge to give a written statement that nothing happened in the college and that she was coerced to depose and if she refused, she would not be allowed to stay in the hostel. Succumbing to the pressure, Tara gave a written statement.

The petition appealed to the Collector to take immediate action against the principal and other college staff. He sent a copy to the Governor, the Chief Minister's cell, the Women's Commission and the Mother Teresa University Vice-Chancellor.

Meanwhile, Jayapriya and another student, who deposed before the DRO, were summoned by the principal in the morning and interrogated by the disciplinary committee members for more than four hours in a closed room. The members allegedly coerced them to give a written statement stating that they deposed before the DRO owing to pressure from some persons.

Ms. Jayapriya refused to give a statement, but the other student, who sought anonymity, did so.

In the evening, students laid a siege to the room demanding that the two girls be allowed to come out of the room immediately. But the principal admonished the students and sent them out.

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Palani women students still under `threat'