Amid mounting outrage on campus, the Delhi University on Friday constituted a six-member inquiry committee to probe the alleged assault of a faculty member by Deepika Jha, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader and joint secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU).
The incident has sparked widespread protests by students and teachers. In a statement, the university said that the committee has been formed to “investigate the physical assault on a faculty member” by Ms. Jha, and the Vice-Chancellor has directed it to submit a report within two weeks. The panel includes university officials and college principals.
A 32-second purported video from the Principal’s office of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, shows Ms. Jha slapping Professor Sujit Kumar on Thursday. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed ABVP stated that while they “respect teachers”, Ms. Jha’s act was a “spontaneous reaction against political bias and indiscipline”.
Mr. Kumar, a DU teacher for 32 years, told The Hindu that he had never faced such allegations before. He said a brawl broke out between the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the ABVP during a DUSU oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday, prompting him to stop the fight.
