Lecturer suspended after harassment allegation sparks protests in Sopore

Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Monday placed a senior lecturer under suspension after students staged protests in north Kashmir’s Sopore following allegations of harassment by a female student.

As the situation escalated, police said a case has been registered after a student alleged sexual assault, while authorities also announced the closure of several educational institutions for three days.

On Monday, students of Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Sopore, held a massive protest demanding strict action against the lecturer.

One of the students alleged that the lecturer had been harassing several female students. “We want justice,” she said.

As protests intensified, senior officials rushed to the spot and assured action to the agitating students.

An official order issued by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir stated that pending inquiry, Ghulam Hassan Mir, senior lecturer in Urdu at GHSS Sopore, Baramulla, “is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached with BHSS Badugam, Gurez, Bandipora.”

Further, the Joint Director (North) has been appointed as the inquiry officer and will submit a report within 15 days, the order said.

Another order issued by the Additional District Magistrate Sopore stated that in view of the prevailing law and order situation, Government Degree College, Sopore, Government Degree College for Women, Sopore, and Government Boys/Girls Higher Secondary Schools in Sopore will remain closed from April 15 to 17.

Sopore SSP Iftkhar Talib said a female student has alleged sexual assault. “We have registered a case and an investigation is underway,” he told The Tribune.