Balasore, Sept. 16: A group of students have accused two senior teachers of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College of sexually harassing them.

Besides bringing the matter to the knowledge of the college principal yesterday, the students also submitted a memorandum to the additional district magistrate and approached the local bar association seeking legal assistance.

The accused teachers are Harihar Kanungo, head of the Odia department and Dinabandhu Behera, a lecturer of the same department.

One of the complainants said: “We had been subjected to sexual harassment by these teachers, especially Kanungo, for the past six months. He used to call us at odd hours and on holidays to the college with ill intentions.”

“Since I didn’t oblige him, he gave me less marks. I want action against them, or I will commit suicide,” one of the complainants threatened.

However, another group of students said the duo were being maligned due to internal feud among the teachers in the department.

Principal of the college Sudarshan Nayak said: “A group of 10 to 15 students submitted to me a compliant against Kanungo and Behera, alleging sexual harassment, on Saturday afternoon. Both the teachers have denied the allegations.”

“I have handed the matter over to the sexual harassment redress cell for a probe. I will act after receiving a report from the cell,” he said.

Local bar association secretary Manoj Nayak said a group of students had approached the association last evening. “We feel there is some truth in the allegations as some married students came in with their husbands,” said Nayak.

“A group of women advocates will conduct an inquiry into the sexual harassment charge,” he said.

The students, however, have not lodged any police complaint.

Additional district magistrate Akshay Mohanty said: “There is a women protection cell in the district, and the case has been referred to it.”