Indian student accused of rape in New York state university

New York, Feb 24: An 18-year-old student from India has been arrested in the US on charges of rape after he was accused of entering the room of another student and sexually assaulting her.

Abhay Pant, who hails from New Delhi, is a student at The State University of New York in Oswego in New York state. According to campus newspaper The Oswegonian, Pant was arrested for first-degree rape last week by the University Police.

According to a statement from Julie Blissert, the director of Public Affairs, Pant allegedly entered the room of another resident and sexually assaulted the victim in the early morning hours. Pant was arraigned in Oswego Town Court and remanded to Oswego County Correctional Facilities on USD 50,000 cash bail or USD 100,000 bond and is scheduled to reappear in court later.

According to the 2014-2015 Oswego State Student Handbook, students accused of criminal violations, including sexual assaults, are subject to disciplinary action by the university.

Abhay Pant, who hails from New Delhi, is a student at The State University of NY

Oswego State President Deborah Stanley had sent an email to the student body last year condemning sexual assault and had said that college has "zero tolerance for sexual assault".

Stanley had added that the college would take immediate and determined action in case a student is found guilty any violation of the rules. Stanley said that according to campus rules any person or organisation found culpable in a sexual assault would not remain a member of the college community.

PTI