Andhra University Professor Thrashed By Students For Sexual Harassment 

Vishakapatnam: Even as the campaigns against sexual harassment by professors in colleges and universities are naming and shaming the predators, a fresh incident of a professor sexually harassing girl students came to light in Andhra University on Monday.

Five women from Sanskrit department have complained to the students association that head of department Prof. K Yedukondalu misbehaved with them. On Monday, the students and the association’s leaders took the law into their own hands and attacked the professor in his office.

Prof. Yedukondalu is reported to have asked the women to meet him personally to collect their hall tickets for the MA Sanskrit semester-end exams.

When they refused to meet him, he did not allow them to write the exam stating that they did not have the required attendance.

Though 12 of the 20 students in the class attended classes regularly, only three were allowed to take the exam.

Earlier, in 2014, the professor had tried to shield a research scholar, Sagar, who had reportedly sought sexual favours from a female student in exchange for better marks.

The professor was suspended from administrative posts for two years after a four-member committee confirmed that his behaviour was inappropriate. Despite this, he was made head of the department in 2016.

According to students, Prof. Yedukondalu has been offering female students a chance to work in films through his contacts, and provide them financial assistance in exchange for sexual favours.

The students have complained to AU’s rector Prof K. Gayathri Devi and the vice-chancellor Prof G. Nageswara Rao.

The university is forming a committee to enquire into the allegations and action would be taken against the professor,

Andhra University Registrar V. Umamaheswar Rao said, “Earlier, also a committee gave warning to the professor. We will resolve the issue and punish the guilty as early as possible. But, we condemn attacks on the campus without proper complaints to the principal. Students should not take the law into their own hands.”