AMU teacher charged with attempt to murder, sexual harrassment

Aligarh, Sep 2 (UNI) An attempt to murder and sexual harrassment case has been registered against a senior Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) teacher.

An MA (Final year) student, Asma Javed lodged an FIR last night against Sanskrit department reader Dr Mohd Sharif accusing him of making indecent advances towards her.

Dr Sharif has been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 307 (attempt to murder), besides sections 120 (B) and 294.

A native of Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh, Asma has been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at AMU precincts since Thursday to protest the ''lackadaisical attitude'' of the varsity authorities on the sensitive issue, and demanding action against Dr Sharif.

She claimed when she spurned his advances, Dr Sharif failed her in the Ph D entrance examination ''to teach her a lesson.'' According to her, she wrote a complaint against Dr Sharif on March 24. However, no action was taken against him.

She alleges an attempt was also made on her life in May, at the behest of Dr Sharif.

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

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

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

An enquiry conducted by the AMU Women's Cell comprising four members had given a clean chit to the teacher.

Meanwhile, police superintendent (City) Jagdish Sharma said investigations were on and any action would be taken accordingly.

UNI XC/VS VD DS1615