Rape-in-Hindu-myths remark: Police question suspended AMU professor

Aligarh (UP): Police here on Thursday called for questing the suspended AMU assistant professor, who referred to examples of “rape” in Hindu mythology during a forensic science class, provoking accusations of hurting religious sentiments. A case was registered against Dr Jitendra Kumar, an assistant professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College.

The complaint was filed by a BJP leader. The suspended doctor was called to the Civil Lines police station as part of the ongoing investigation, Circle officer S Pandey told mediapersons.

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Meanwhile, a senior university official said the two-member enquiry committee instituted by Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor to probe the incident is expected to submit its report shortly.

The assistant professor was served a show-cause notice , asking him to explain within 24 hours why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. The university authorities also set up the two-member probe committee, but he was suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.

After getting the notice, the professor had apologised. In a letter to the AMU vice-chancellor Kumar had said, "My intention was not to hurt religious sentiments of any particular religion and it was done only to highlight that rape has been a part of our society since long." He said it was "an inadvertent mistake" and assured that "no such incident will occur in the future".

His lecture, which included a slide show, led to complaints that he had hurt the religious sentiments of students and staff members. A controversy erupted after someone posted a video clip of the lecture on social media. The AMU authorities acted after reporters approached them for comment on Wednesday.