Sexual harassment in Hakimpet Sports School: OSD suspended, severe action if proved guilty

HYDERABAD: A sordid saga of sexual harassment of budding sportspersons by an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Telangana State Sports School in Hakimpet on the fringes of Hyderabad, came to light when Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha expressed disgust over the incident  on social media.

Quoting a news item published in a vernacular newspaper about the alleged deeds of OSD Harikrishna, a veterinary doctor by profession, Kavitha in her tweet said that there should be no place for such incidents under K Chandrashekar Rao’s governance. She demanded a comprehensive investigation of the harassment issue and action against the accused.

Responding to her tweet, State Sports Minister Srinivas Goud assured the MLC that the person responsible for causing discomfort to female sports persons in the hostel would not be spared and would be punished. The Minister on Sunday huddled with officials of his department and told the media that the that OSD facing harassment allegations was suspended immediately and a thorough investigation would follow to identify the extent of the rot at the sports school.

“Protection and welfare of women is the first priority of the KCR-led Telangana Government. There was no formal complaint against OSD Harikrishna, but taking cognizance of the newspaper report we have initiated action and suspended the officer,” Srinivas Goud said. However he said that his initial inquiry revealed that there were no prior complaints against the OSD but if proven guilty would not hesitate to send him to Jail. He said the veterinary doctor was on deputation to the sports school and said to be popular among students who considered him as ‘daddy’.

Brij Bhushan of Hakimpet

The story published in the newspaper portraying him as Hakimpet’s own Brij Bhushan of New Delhi alleged that the OSD was staying in the girl's hostel illegally and forcing them to go out with him. The report said that after returning from the outing he would sexually harass them.

The girl students also alleged that the officer in question was involved in sexual escapades in front of them with a few women employees of the sports school. Narrating one incident some girl students told the newspaper that a girl who went missing was found half naked in a lady employee's room on the campus. Later the girl faced several health issues including that of menstruation.

OSD refutes allegations

OSD Harikrishna however refuted these allegations and said that the newspaper had been publishing negative stories against him since the day he took charge. “In these three and half years I have improved the school a lot. I am in an administrative post here I have nothing to do with coaching the girls to be in their close proximity,” he told the media.

He said that he never entered to ladies' hostel nor ever allowed any male person even in their shorts and T-shirts. Reacting to the decision of the Government to suspend him, he said felt that the Minister should have asked for his explanation. “Now my reputation was ruined and my family is ashamed because of me,” he said.