The Jaffna University Students’ Union (JUSU) had lodged a complaint via the university authorities against the sexual harassment of female students residing at the university hostel by outsiders. 

Speaking to The Morning, JUSU President Alagarasa Vijayakumar said yesterday (15) that around 200 female students residing in the hostels had forwarded a petition to the Jaffna University Vice Chancellor (VC) regarding the sexual harassment that they are facing, following which the issue had been referred to the Kopay Police. 

“Before we went to lodge the complaint, the matter had been referred to the Police by the Vice Chancellor. However, we handed over the complaint letter that we prepared. The Police have assured us that they will take necessary action,” he added. 

There had been outsiders involved in sexual harassment by making sexually obscene comments and gestures at the female students in the hostels, he added. 

“Our fellow female students had to face such harassment while walking down the road where the hostels are situated. There are around 781 female students residing at the University hostels,” he said. 

The petition sent to the University administration had been by the female students residing at the new ladies’ hostel in Kokuvil.  The petition dated 17 November, states that these incidents of sexual abuse and harassment-related activities have mentally affected all the female students who had endured such. Facing such incidents on a daily basis is an issue to their security, and therefore, they appealed to the authorities to take swift action.