Lab assistant throws liquid ammonia on HoD at Govt Polytechnic
   Date :16-Jan-2020
Lab assistant throws liqu
 
Staff Reporter :
 
A woman Lab Assistant at Government Polytechnic, Sadar, on Wednesday threw liquid ammonia on woman Head of Department (HoD) of Information Technology (IT) Department of the college over long-standing enmity. “The HoD did not sustain any injuries as she covered herself with an odhni,” said Deepak Kulkarni, Officiating Principal of the college.
 
According to Principal Kulkarni, Nilima Shende was working as Lab Assistant in IT Department. As Nilima was not attending college regularly and also was not responding to instructions of professors, HoD Anjali Mahajan wrote a complaint to the Principal against Shende. Acting on the complaint, the Principal had transferred Shende to Chemistry Department of the college. When Shende continued to remain absent in the college for over a month without submitting a formal leave application, the college authorities withheld her salary for the month of December. Shende then approached the Principal and asked the reason for not getting salary. Principal Kulkarni reportedly told her that the salary was not issued as she was marked absent for a month as her paid leaves were exhausted.
 
On Tuesday, Shende again approached Principal Kulkarni and submitted a written complaint against HoD Mahajan accusing her of torture. The Principal then forwarded the complaint to college’s Women Grievance Redressal Cell the same day. Before the cell could conduct the inquiry, Shende went to the office of HoD Mahajan carrying liquid ammonia in a glass at 12.30 pm. Before Mahajan could understand anything, Shende threw the ammonia towards her.
 
However, Mahajan held the odhni in front of Shende and saved herself. Mahajan then shouted for help that brought a large number of college teachers and students to the spot. According to Principal Kulkarni, the Women Grievance Redressal Cell had called Shende for inquiry immediately after the incident. Staff of Sadar police station rushed to the spot and took Shende to police station after being informed by HoD Mahajan. Police Inspector of Sadar police station Mahesh Bansode said that statements of Mahajan and Shende were recorded in the evening. “As HoD Mahajan did not lodge a formal complaint, no offence was registered,” he said.