AMU girl student on hunger strike alleging sexual harrassment

Aligarh, Aug 31 (UNI) An Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student, who charged a senior teacher with sexual harrassment, today sat on hunger strike against the ''lackadaisical attitude'' of the varsity authorities on the sensitive issue.

Asma Javed, a native of Balrampur district in Uttar Pradesh, has accused AMU Sanskrit department head Dr Mohd Sharif of making indecent advances towards her.

When she spurned his advances, Dr Sharif failed her in the Ph D entrance examination, Asma alleged.

Meanwhile, the AMU Staff Association, AMU Non Teaching Staff Association and senior faculty members -- at a joint news conference -- rubbished her charges and informed that Dr Sharif had already been suspended on March 25 pending an enquiry.

Asma, however, maintains that she resorted to hunger strike after no action was taken against the ''guilty'' teacher, although five months had lapsed since.

Interestingly, Dr Sharif claims that Asma had demanded Rs 2 lakh from him and when he refused to concede, she was trying to frame him by levelling baselss charges.

An enquiry conducted by the AMU Women's Cell comprising four members has given a clean chit to the Sanskrit department head.

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