Gangadhar Meher University warns students of fake news on social media

Following the arrest of an assistant professor for sexually exploiting a female student, Gangadhar Meher University has released a notice asking students not to spread false information or identify people on social media or group platforms.

In a formal advisory released on Friday evening, the university requested that the students refrain from guessing or posting unwarranted information about the case. "As the case has been reported directly to the police, we do not have names of people except the prime accused. Guessing about any person, speculating and posting unverified stuff could damage people as well as the institution," the notice said.

The students were urged to concentrate on studies and the university's developmental programs, avoiding gossips and internet speculations.

The latest advisory by the university seems to be an attempt to contain misinformation as administrative and legal processes run their course. This is a day after the university's internal complaints committee held a special meeting to debate campus security in light of the arrest.

The meeting resulted in a sequence of institutional actions such as advisories to faculty members regarding professional behavior, hostel awareness campaigns, dissemination of information leaflets and periodic monitoring of ICC activities. The university also published contact numbers of ICC members to facilitate greater accessibility to students who are in need.

Conversely, in the meanwhile while investigation of the accused assistant professor continues, there is a growing urge to scrutinize his background and validity of his appointment in the university. After the accused teacher joined GMU in 2020, one Sambhu Sankar Deep of Balangir had opposed his recruitment in the high court. Deep accused that despite his PhD and the accused being only NET-qualified, the latter had been appointed assistant professor - implying an administrative irregularity.

The arrest of the assistant professor has also led to a political controversy on the campus, with the ABVP accusing that Suna had connections with the BCJD. The student group produced his previous social media posts containing photographs of BJD leaders and BCJD members as proof.

Suspected Gopikant Suna (32), a junior lecturer in the education department, was arrested on July 17 on the complaint of a 20-year-old second-year BA BEd student who accused the teacher of repeatedly exploiting her on the promise of marriage. Suna has also been suspended pending further proceedings.