MDU staff ‘force’ women to click photo of private parts, sanitary pads as menstruation proof, booked
Rohtak: Three officials from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak have been booked after two women sanitation workers alleged they were forced to take photographs of their private parts and sanitary pads to prove they were menstruating.
The University, on its part, suspended two sanitation supervisors and has ordered an internal probe into the incident, as reported by The Indian Express on Friday.
The FIR was registered on Wednesday against sanitation supervisors Vitender and Vinod Hooda and assistant registrar Shyam Sunder at PGIMS police station, SHO Roshan Lal said. “The FIR includes charges under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe and outrage a woman’s modesty, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman,” TIE quoted Lal as saying.
The incident occurred on October 26 while they were cleaning the university’s sports complex.
Four female sanitation workers have accused their male supervisors at MDU of harassment and undue pressure to work faster, despite clearly stating they were unwell. The supervisors reportedly insisted they speed up their work and, when the women explained they couldn’t due to menstrual pain, the supervisors allegedly told them: “You click photos of your private parts as proof so that the menstrual cycle can be confirmed’. When two of us refused to follow the instructions, we were abused and threatened with dismissal.”
The incident triggered widespread outrage, with sanitation workers staging a protest and directly confronting one of the accused. The demonstration also garnered support from students, who gathered in solidarity to demand justice.
Meanwhile, the University emphasised that any incident of insecurity or harassment in the workplace will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The university reiterated its commitment to “always providing a safe, respectful, and culturally sensitive” work environment. It added that “the safety and respect of women are paramount, and that the strictest action will be taken against any form of inappropriate behaviour or misconduct”.
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Youngsters should be made aware of UP's condition before 2017: Adityanath
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday urged intellectuals and opinion makers to educate the younger generation about the condition of the state before 2017 and the transformation witnessed in recent years.
Addressing the "Prabuddh Samvad" programme organised by the BJP's Rapti Nagar Mandal at a marriage hall in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said youngsters must be made aware of the "era of riots, curfews, lawlessness and appeasement politics", so that such a situation does not return.
He said many youngsters today were too young to understand the condition of Uttar Pradesh 10 years ago. "If we do not tell the present generation what the state faced earlier, they will forget the consequences of misgovernance and appeasement politics," he said.
The chief minister alleged that before 2017, the state suffered from "goondaism, corruption, anarchy and exploitation by regional parties". He claimed that traders were forced to pay the "goonda tax", women felt unsafe and employment opportunities were limited, forcing many to migrate.
Highlighting the changes under the present government, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh now offers development, security and employment opportunities.
Referring to Gorakhpur, he said the fertiliser plant has resumed operations, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is functioning smoothly and the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College has improved healthcare services.
The chief minister added that industrial projects worth Rs 15,000 crore have generated jobs for nearly 50,000 youngsters in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath said India has emerged as a global inspiration under his leadership.
Referring to global tensions and rising fuel prices, he appealed to people to conserve fuel and adopt alternatives, such as solar energy, public transport, electric vehicles and carpooling.
Calling intellectuals the "opinion makers of the society", he said teachers, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs have a responsibility to guide people in the right direction. He also urged citizens to remain balanced during both favourable and challenging times.
Local MP Ravi Kishan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Dharmendra Singh also addressed the programme. Mayor Manglesh Srivastava and several BJP leaders, professionals and social workers were present.
