Student’s death unravels twin crimes: Former lecturer held for murder, overman for sexual assault
Hyderabad : A 20-year-old engineering student, who had allegedly endured sexual harassment and assault during an internship at a coal mine, was allegedly murdered by her former lecturer after he learnt about her ‘closeness’ with an overman at the mine. The student, a native of Sultanabad mandal, was allegedly forced to consume pesticide by her former lecturer on Sept 12. She died while undergoing treatment at a govt hospital in Godavarikhani on Sept 13. Peddapalli DCP B Ram Reddy said the lecturer was arrested in Godavarikhani on Sept 21 based on CCTV footage, call records and other technical evidence collected during the investigation. The student completed her diploma at a polytechnic in Mancherial district in 2022, according to police.
Police said the overman at the mine introduced himself to the woman as a former student of the polytechnic and a student of the lecturer.
The accused was then working as a contract lecturer at the institution, and their acquaintance gradually developed into a close relationship, police said. He allegedly began harassing her, police said. A committee was constituted to inquire into the allegations and, according to police, concluded that the overman was not at fault. Police said the sexual assault took place later.
Police arrested both the lecturer and the overman (a supervisory official in mining operations) in connection with the case. Police alleged he later made her write a suicide note and attempted to portray the incident as a case of suicide. The woman lodged a complaint with the coal mine management against him.
After her family shifted to Godavarikhani, she joined a coal mine there in Jan for a 12-day internship. The lecturer, who was living separately from his wife following marital differences, allegedly assured the student that he would marry her. She later joined Osmania University to pursue her engineering degree in mining.