Ranchi, Aug. 9: The vice chancellor of Sido Kanhu Murmu (SKMU) University this evening ordered transfer of SP Mahila College principal Renuka Nath to her original post as history teacher with immediate effect following a probe into the ordeal of a BA student who was stripped in the hostel on August 1 over a phone theft.
The college's Sanskrit teacher Sushmita Bose will provisionally replace Nath at the Dumka college.
Earlier in the day, the varsity's inquiry committee - headed by pro-vice chancellor Satya Narayan Murmu - had submitted its report to vice chancellor Manoranjan Prasad Sinha, recommending action against the principal as well as warden Anju Murmu of the hostel, where the incident took place.
A separate team from the State Commission for Women, which visited the campus this morning and met the victim at her home in Masalia block of Dumka, had also found gross negligence on part of the college authorities and called for dismissal of the warden.
The victim student, the daughter of a tribal farmer, was stripped and paraded naked, her four-hour ordeal being photographed and video-recorded, and the clips later circulated on social media. Four students, out of the gang of 24 girls who tormented her, were arrested yesterday after the chief minister ordered a probe.
"I have submitted my report. Lapses on part of the college administration cannot be ignored," the pro-VC said.
Women's commission chairperson Kalyani Sharan led yet another independent probe and expressed strong reservations against the security arrangement at SP college, which has laggard guards and no CCTV cameras.
"The victim told me that fellow students applied salt and chilli powder on her body before as they beat her. She was stripped in public view. I am shocked to learn that boys were present (inside a girl's hostel). The warden and security guard on duty should be sacked," Sharan said, adding that one of the other students sent photographs of the ordeal to her boyfriend after which they went viral on WhatsApp and elsewhere.
Dumka deputy commissioner Mukesh Kumar, meanwhile, approved Rs 50,000 as compensation. The BDO of Masalia has been directed to provide a toilet at the girl's Paharpur village home in the block. She will also be taken to a psychologist for counselling.
Kumar, through a news release, urged youths not to share objectionable photographs or videos on social media, warning them of punishment under various sections of the IPC.
Yesterday, the deputy commissioner had formed a four-member inquiry committee, headed by additional collector Indu Nath. This panel has not submitted its report yet.
