Uttarakhand's Kichha MLA accuses Pant varsity CSO of extortion & beating, stripping man

RUDRAPUR: Kichha MLA Tilak Raj Behar has accused the chief security officer (CSO) of Govind Ballabh Pant University in Udham Singh Nagar’s Pantnagar of beating a man with sticks, forcing him to stand like a rooster and stripping him. He also alleged that the official extorted money from security guards and forced them to perform manual labour.
Behar shared videos and photographs of the purported incidents on his social media page, claiming they were taken last month.
Talking to TOI, Behar alleged that under the officer, Jitendra Singh Bohra, who was appointed in Oct 2022, forced guards to build walls, clean premises and perform other menial tasks
“This is a grave matter. The security officer has no right to strip and assault anyone, even if they are accused of wrongdoing. Who has given him the authority to administer punishment? Forcing security guards into labor is a clear violation of human rights,” he said.
Behar said that will be travelling to Dehradun to submit the evidence to the governor, who is the ex-officio chancellor, and the human rights panel.
Reacting to the allegations, CSO Jitendra Singh Bohra, said the person (who was purportedly being thrashed in the video) was an outsider who was caught stealing. “Our guards apprehended him after he misbehaved with us and we reacted accordingly. I’m fulfilling my responsibilities in the best interest of the university as per the directives of authorities,” Bohra said.
University VC Manmohan Singh could not be contacted for comments.
Meanwhile, a university professor, wishing anonymity said that In the late evening development, Bohra has been relieved of his office. "A communique has been issued in this regard from।the VC office", he said.