Hyderabad scientist arrested for sexually harassing Dalit student
Hyderabad, June 2: Hyderabad Police on Saturday arrested a senior scientist at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here for sexually harassing a Dalit student.
K. Bhaskarachary (58), who was suspended by NIN last month, was arrested by police and later produced before a court, which sent him to judicial custody.
Police said the scientist was booked on May 18 on a complaint by a second year student of MSc (Nutrition), who hails from West Bengal. He was arrested after police conducted an investigation and collected the evidence.
Bhaskarachary, who was the student's guide on dissertation, allegedly harassed her with obscene messages and threatened her.
Assistant Commissioner of Police J. Narsiah told reporters that Bhaskarachary was booked under the Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
NIN had suspended the scientist after the student complained along with the messages sent to her by Bhaskarachary on WhatsApp. Director of NIN, R. Hemalatha, had constituted an enquiry committee to examine and recommend punishment.
Bhaskarachary, who has been associated with NIN for over three decades, was recently made head of a newly created department called Dietitics, which specialises in defining customised health foods to fight various lifestyle diseases and maintaining a healthy life.
A Masters in Life Sciences and Ph.D. in Biochemistry, he is a Grade E scientist in NIN's Food Chemistry Division.
Several nutritionists, dieticians, students of nutrition sciences and women rights activists had been demanding the arrest of the accused. They had also signed an online petition seeking his dismissal.
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Two children die after arch collapses during outdoor play in Karnataka
Raichur (Karnataka) (PTI): Two children died on Saturday after a portion of an arch allegedly collapsed on them while they were watching an outdoor play in this district, police said.
The incident occurred in Bail Marchad village in Manvi taluk, they said.
According to police, seven people were sitting under the arch watching the play when the structure suddenly collapsed, killing two children on the spot.
The deceased have been identified as Vishwanath Ramalinga (8) and Sanvita (2).
Vishakshi (25), Lakshmi (18), Vishalakshi (25), Yallamma (3), and Bassamma (45) were injured in the incident and were shifted to Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital for further treatment, police said.
The bodies have been moved to the mortuary of Manvi Government Hospital, they added.
A case has been registered at Manvi Police Station, and further investigation is underway, police said.
