Thrissur: Principal in-charge of Mother Arts and Science College at Peruvallur in Pavaratty R.U. Abdul Saleem resigned on Friday after the police on Thursday registered an FIR against him based on a complaint by four girl students who accused him of subjecting them to mental harassment. It is understood that the management has informed the students, who had launched an agitation on Thursday demanding Mr Saleem’s ouster, that the principal’s charge has been given to vice-principal P.V. Mini.
The students who launched the agitation with the support of SFI, AISF, KSU, Youth Congress and MSF, called of their strike after the resignation of the principal in-charge. There are nearly 500 students in the college which is run by the Al-Nazar Trust. The girls in their complaint said the principal had summoned them to his chamber alleging that one among them used a mobile phone in the hostel room which they shared. “The college authorities had fined a student Rs 5,000 for using a mobile phone, which is banned in the college,” said a student who requested anonymity.
“But Mr Saleem questioned them in his chamber even after taking disciplinary action and asked them unnecessary and lewd queries which prompted them to approach the cops.” The Pavaratty police, which registered the FIR and recorded the statement of the students, however, took no further action on Friday. The students had earlier raised the issue of contaminated water from a pond on the premise of the college being used in the college hostel causing several diseases for the inmates. Both the police and the concerned civic body are yet to act on this matter.
