Rourkela, May 31: Students of NIT Rourkela today demanded dismissal of the institute's director for allegedly shielding the chief security officer, who has been accused of sexual harassment by at least seven women guards of the institute.

The director, Sunil Sarangi, is, however, scheduled to retire this month.

The campus is tense with students continuing their sit-in demonstration demanding action against the director. Two more security guards are said to have come forward to lodge complaints against chief security officer Balaram Champatiray.

Seven women have already given their statements accusing Champatiray of sexually exploiting them. The security guards work for a private agency and would allegedly be hired at the whim of Champatiray, a regular employee of the institute.

The statement of two more persons will be recorded later. Inspector in charge of Sector 3 police station Pratibha Majhi said: "In a day or two, we will call them for verification and record their statements."

She added: "Depending on requirement, we may go to them and collect their statements."

The police have registered two complaints of two security guards. The statements of the two guards were recorded before the judicial magistrate first class.

The five other lady guards were accepted as witnesses in the case.

"All seven guards had the same story. They were being exploited sexually by the chief security officer of NIT Rourkela, who is a regular employee of the institute. The guards had stayed silent for fear of losing their jobs and livelihood," a police source said.

The students, most of whom are pursuing PhD and M Tech, numbering over 60, continued to demonstrate against the director. Earlier, they had demanded registration of FIR and Champatiray's dismissal.

"The director should be removed as he was insensitive towards the issue," said a student.