------------------------------------------------------- GOA WOMENS UPDATE 17/4/09: Molestation, Suicide and Sexual Harassment ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- Women commits suicide ---------------------------- A 22-year-old woman from Shigne-Sattari committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence on Tuesday evening.
According to Valpoi police, the deceased Smitha M Gaus hanged herself to the rafter of her room. She was rushed to Community Health Centre Valpoi, but doctors declared her brought in dead. Police sent the body for autopsy at GMC in Bambolim and is investigating the case under the supervision of PI Madkaikar. ---------------------------- HERALD 17/4/09 page 03 ---------------------------- ---------------------------- Doc accused of molestation ---------------------------- A 32-year-old woman from UP has accused a doctor from a hospital in Calangute for allegedly molesting her at the hospital on April 13. In a police complaint filed with Calangute police on Thursday, the woman, who is presently residing at Saligao, has stated that the doctor molested her while she had gone for check-up at the hospital in Calangute. She further stated that while a male doctor was attending, he misbehaved with her by touching her private parts. Based on the complaint, police has sent the woman for a medical check-up and the reports are awaited. PSI Gaurish is investigating the case. ---------------------------- HERALD 17/4/09 page 03 ---------------------------- ------------------------------------- Student withdraws ragging complaint ------------------------------------- In a turn of events a female student of Political Science has withdrawn a ragging complaint which she had made before the Vice-Chancellor of the varsity against her seniors. She has stated that she was forced by the Head of Department (HoD) to make the ragging charges against her colleagues to confuse the whole issue. A few days back Utt Goenkara had maintained that some students alleging sexual harassment were victimising the HoD Dr Aureliano Fernandes as he had caught them ragging and copying in the varsity premises. Talking to the media, Goa University Registrar Dr M M Sangodkar said he had received three complaints against Dr Fernandes which were directly and indirectly linked to sexual harassment charges against the latter. According to sources, one was pertaining to ragging – filed by MA Part I student against Part II students – which interestingly was today withdrawn. The second is a complaint filed by one or two students against the marks allotted by Dr Fernandes in the dissertation (assignment) paper. In one case, he had given zero marks on the grounds that the girl had copied – word by word – from the net. Now, this complaint is referred to the Grievances Committee. The third complaint, filed recently is of sexual harassment. Dr Sangodkar, who briefed media persons in his cabin on Thursday, said the prevention of sexual harassment committee of the varsity was investigating the charges made against the HoD by a few female students and would submit a detailed report in the next 15 days. There are around 15 to 20 students studying Political Science. Yesterday Aureliano was instructed by the university’s Executive Council to dissociate from holding any academic and administrative matters. Today, he was asked to go on paid leave till a decision was taken in the matter after the detailed report was submitted by the committee. Dr Sangodkar said Aureliano has been asked to go on leave from today and his charge has been given to Dean of Social Sciences Prof A V Afonso. Dr Sangodkar assured that the Anti-Ragging Committee of the varsity was also looking into the ragging charges and would submit a report in the next 15 days. It is learnt that the prevention of sexual harassment committee has been holding hearing into the matter for the last three days and today too the members conducted hearings for the entire day. Some female students were also seated outside the room where the hearing was on. Some of the parents wrote the Vice-Chancellor they feared the HOD may seek revenge during assessment of their wards’ marks and as such not to give the responsibility to him. FABRICATED: Utt Goenkara has maintained that the sexual harassment case is fabricated against Dr Fernandes.According to them, the case of ragging first took place in November 2008 and the complaint was filed in January this year. In early March, the complaint was pursued but no action was taken. The ragging inquiry began on 24th March and it was only this month that a case of sexual harassment was filed including by one student who had left the course midway. Both the girls are ones who were caught having plagiarized the assignments verbatim. ---------------------------- HERALD 17/4/09 page 03 ---------------------------- ====================================== GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto:[email protected] --------------------------------------------------------- Working on issues of Development & Democracy ======================================
