NEW DELHI: It may be over a week since she was allegedly harassed by two students for wearing Western clothes, but the ordeal is far from over for Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) student Farah.

With the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) extending support to her, Farah addressed a press conference for the first time on the JNU campus here on Thursday. Accusing the Administration of restraining her from taking necessary action, the post-graduate journalism student said the AMU Students' Union had been insisting on her giving up her demand for a gender sensitisation committee and warned her of "dire consequences" in case she continued with her campaign.

She said she was abused and harassed in the campus area on February 2, when while walking to her department two boys on a black Pulsar snatched her shawl and passed lewd remarks.

"I usually wear jeans and T-shirt to my classes and over the last one year a number of people had told me I should wear a dupatta, as it was unacceptable on the campus. I did not pay much attention to these remarks then, but on February 2 when these boys snatched my shawl they said `how come you are wearing a dupatta today?''' she said.

But AMU officials say the allegations are nothing but an effort to malign the name of the University on the pretext of eve teasing. "When the matter was brought to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor, he immediately directed the Proctor to enquire into it and report the matter to the police. An FIR was lodged instantly. Since the culprits were not identified by the victim, immediate disciplinary action could not be taken. However, the Vice-Chancellor issued an appeal to all the students exhorting them to cooperate in curbing this evil," the AMU said in a statement issued on Thursday. But what made things worse for the student was her decision to mobilise students to demand appointment of a gender sensitisation committee against sexual harassment on the campus. The students alleges that when she took up her case with the University administration and asked for setting up of an active body, she was asked to focus on her own case. The University reportedly has a complaint mechanism, but one that students are still largely unaware of.

"University officials said that is a secondary matter. You should concentrate on your problem. But then, the point is while the University says there is a complaint mechanism in place, no student knows about it. There is no information available on the issue. I don't want a short-term solution but a long time one that will prevent such things from taking place," said the student who is currently in Delhi.

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