Sambalpur: Vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University on Tuesday night ordered a probe into the alleged harassment of a woman postgraduate student of the home science department by a contractual employee.

The varsity's sexual harassment cell will investigate the allegation. "I have ordered the sexual harassment cell to probe into the allegations of the student and submit a report. I have transferred the employee named by the student from the confidential section to the maintenance department," varsity vice-chancellor Deepak Behera told The Telegraph.

The four-member sexual harassment cell team will meet the student, her friends and other staff members of the department to ascertain the veracity of the allegation. It will submit its report within two days, he said.

The final-year student on Monday complained to Behera that the employee took advantage of his position in the confidential section of the examination cell and made sexual advances towards her. He had also tried to blackmail her, the woman alleged.

She said he had called her and invited her to his residence to see her examination paper. "Although the student has not given any written complaint, she personally appeared before me and narrated the incident. I ordered the probe in the interest of the students and prestige of the university," he said.