Uttarakhand: GBPIET top functionaries booked for abetting assistant professor's suicide

PAURI: Two top functionaries of the GB Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology here were booked for allegedly driving to suicide an assistant professor who killed herself by jumping into the Alaknanda river after accusing the two of mental harassment.

A case was registered on May 26 against Yashvir Singh, the director, and Anil Kumar Gautam, the Head of the Department of electronics and communications engineering, on the charge of abetment to suicide in connection with the death of assistant professor Manisha Bhatt, Circle Officer of Srinagar Shyam Dutt Nautiyal said. A complaint was lodged by her husband Sandeep Bhatt in which he accused the two functionaries of abetting his wife's suicide, he said. Bhatt had jumped into the Alaknanda river on May 25.

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She was pulled out of it by SDRF personnel and rushed to a hospital where she died during treatment, Nautiyal said. After her death, police booked Yashvir Singh and Anil Kumar Gautam under several sections of the IPC including 306 (abetment to suicide), Inspector Mahesh Rawat, who is investigating the case, told PTI. Soon after the complaint, the two were removed from their posts by the institute.

VN Kala has been made the director of the institute and Rajesh Kumar has replaced Gautam. Important evidence related to the case have been collected from Manisha Bhatt's residence and office and statements of teachers and employees of the institute have been recorded, Nautiyal said.

Uttarakhand state women's commission chairperson Kusum Kandwal has written to Pauri SP Shweta Choubey demanding stern action against Singh and Gautam. The All India Students Association has also demanded an impartial probe into the case. An AISA delegation met the SP and handed her its memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister.