Stephen's alumni,women groups condemn vandalism complaint by Thampu

NEW DELHI: In wake of another controversy at St Stephen's college over a complaint of vandalism filed by the principal Valson Thampu against the student who took him to court in an e-zine row, a group of college alumni and women right activists condemned the act and questioned DU's silence.

The college authorities had yesterday filed a complaint against Devansh Mehta for allegedly "trespassing" the campus and vandalising the lab while he had accompanied the research scholar who had accused a college professor of molesting her.

The victim and Mehta had also filed a complaint alleging they were denied access to the Chemistry laboratory and when they forcefully tried to enter they were locked inside. They also alleged that the compounds which the scholar had prepared during three years of her research were found destroyed inside the lab.

No FIR has been registered yet in both the cases. While Thampu has claimed "there is lot to be read between the lines about Mehta and sexual harassment victim coming together", a group of college alumni today condemned the principal's act and questioned why the Delhi University authorities are silent over such happenings at the institution.

"Nothing has been done so far about the sexual harassment complaint, the victim's guide has not been changed and her stipend not released yet, Thampu is repetitively attacking Devansh Mehta by denying him a character certificate and filing a vandalism complaint," said the Old Stephanians Association, an alumni body not recognised by college.

"Why is Vice Chancellor silent over principal's act of playing with students' future? Why has the victim's guide not been changed yet? We request the HRD ministry to institute a fact finding committee to investigate the sexual harassment complaint," it added.

The alumni group also said that the victim's request for an appointment with the VC to raise the issue has not materialised yet.