DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): The Nagaland University Non-Teaching Staff Association (NUNTSA) has called for immediate and stringent action against Dr. Sarat Chandra Yenisetti, a Professor in the Zoology Department, over allegations of sexual harassment, assault, and abusive behavior.
In a statement addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, NUNTSA detailed a series of incidents involving Dr. Yenisetti, including a violent altercation on November 25. According to the statement, Dr. Yenisetti allegedly threatened an MSc Zoology student with a machete and coerced him to strip in front of peers. When a female Assistant Professor intervened, Dr. Yenisetti allegedly assaulted her, allegedly “grabbing her neck, shoving her to the ground, and threatening to rape her,” the association claimed. The incident was stopped only by the intervention of students and the Head of the Zoology Department, it added.
NUNTSA’s statement also cited a pattern of misconduct by Dr. Yenisetti, including threats to the Head of the Department and his family, persistent harassment of female students and research scholars, and verbal and physical abuse of non-teaching staff.
A female multi-tasking staff member reportedly collapsed from trauma on November 25 after enduring repeated verbal abuse and inappropriate physical contact from Dr. Yenisetti. Additionally, senior university officials and retired faculty members have reportedly faced verbal threats and abuse from the professor.
The association stated that previous warnings to Dr. Yenisetti had proven ineffective and accused the university of enabling his alleged behavior by failing to take decisive action.
“This is not an isolated incident but a pattern of unchecked predatory behavior that has irreparably tarnished the institution’s reputation,” the statement read.
NUNTSA has demanded the immediate termination of Dr. Yenisetti’s services, warning that failure to act will compel the association to take its own measures to safeguard the university community.
The association emphasized its commitment to seeking justice, declaring, “This is a fight for justice, and we will not back down until this menace is eradicated from our institution.”
