Unable to bear the alleged sexual advances by a teacher, an 18-year-old student of Christ University tried to kill herself on Monday by consuming rat poison on college premises.
The girl was rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, where her condition is said to be critical.
The girl’s father in his complaint said the teacher had been making sexual advances at his daughter for the past six months and had demanded favours in return for passing her in the exams.
He had also forced her to give him a massage during a bike rally from the college 15 days ago, the father alleged.
“He threatened to withhold her hall ticket if she did not comply,” the father said. The girl was staying as a paying guest and had recently come back home since she alleged that her roommate was also forcing her to agree to the teacher’s advances.
On Monday, he had allegedly called the girl to attend an NCC class.
When she refused citing personal reasons, he got two of her friends to call her and managed to get her to college.
“After she reached the college, he hit my daughter in front of her classmates. Upset over this, she tried to kill herself,” the father added.
Mico Layout police have registered a case.
Fr Abraham Vettiyankal, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Christ University, however, claimed that the victim was making excuses. “The other fathers on the campus informed me that the girl took the step after she was asked to go to a camp to which she did not want to go. I do not think the accusations of sexual advances are true,” he said.
Police, however, said the college authorities had requested the girl’s parents not to file a case.