A professor of Assam Agricultural University in Jorhat on Tuesday committed suicide after being accused of sexual harassment by one of his female students.
The professor was found hanging in his office room at the department of the university.
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Abhijit Sharma, a professor of the Agronomy department, was spotted by a worker from outside the window and alerted the authorities.
Sharma, who resides in the 15 units of the old campus, is suspected to have committed suicide after he came to office early at about 8 am.
A source said that Sharma was reportedly involved in the sexual harassment of a post graduate female student, who he was guiding.
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The student, who is a resident of Guwahati, had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Director of Post Graduate Studies, Ajit Baishya, in this regard.
Sharma was recently removed as her major advisor by an order from the vice chancellor on health grounds.
The student, who had only one semester left to complete her post graduate degree, had said that she had been facing harassment for more than a year and would not like to complete her degree under him.
Sharma was also transferred to RARS, Titabar through a letter given to him by the authorities on Monday evening.
The source said that Sharma may have committed suicide out of shame.
Police said Sharma left behind a suicide note stating that the university authorities have ‘betrayed’ him, which forced him to take the extreme step.
Sharma is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Another source said that though Sharma was a brilliant man academically and had published a few books.
His body has been sent for post mortem to Jorhat Medical College Hospital (JMCH).