Cuttack, June 14: The Junior Doctors’ Association today demanded an impartial probe into the harassment charges brought by postgraduate girl students of SCB Medical College and Hospital against a professor of the pathology department.

The association has demanded action against the accused for allegedly causing mental harassment to the girls.

“At the governing body meeting held today, we have condemned the incident and demand a detailed and impartial probe into the allegations of mental harassment brought against the head of the department,” said president of the association Atman Das.

The students are now gearing up for a demonstration in protest against such conduct by the professor — which was brought to the notice of the state women’s commission yesterday.

In a written complaint, the pathology department girls had accused professor Sitaram Mohapatra of harassing them for the past one-and-a-half years.

“We were not feeling safe, because the professor used to detain us in his room for hours. Apart from students, many female faculty members, too, were also facing similar harassment. They have also submitted a memorandum,” said a postgraduate student.

The students have also demanded the constitution of a separate cell to take up cases of harassment at the workplace, so that timely action can be taken in such incidents.

“We have constituted a committee to probe into the allegations, and appropriate action will be taken once the team submits its report within three days,” said SCB medical college principal Prakash Mohapatra.

The head of the pathology department, however, turned down the allegations, calling those baseless.

“The allegations are completely baseless,” he said.

The students, in a memorandum to the chief minister, dean, principal and the superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital, have also demanded the removal of Mohapatra from his post.