According to Kotturpuram Police, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. while the woman was walking alone on campus. The accused, identified as Roshan Kumar, reportedly approached her carrying a stick and pulled her hair. The intern raised an alarm and fled the scene. Security personnel stationed nearby responded quickly, but the man managed to escape.
Police from Kotturpuram station arrived shortly after receiving information and launched an investigation. Based on the woman’s description, the suspect was traced and identified as Roshan Kumar, a contractual worker employed at one of the food court outlets on campus. He is a native of Maharashtra.
Roshan Kumar was arrested on June 26 and remanded to custody. Police have booked him under relevant sections of the law, and further investigation is underway, said a senior officer.
Following the incident, several students demanded heightened security measures around campus, including the employment of more security personnel, installation of cameras around secluded stretches and their regular maintenance and better lighting. “It is a shame that women ate unsafe even within the campus of one of India’s most prestigious institutes,” a PhD student said.
Institute’s Statement
In an official statement, IIT-Madras said: “An unfortunate incident occurred on June 25 within the IIT-Madras campus, where a contractual employee of a vendor misbehaved with a woman student visiting from another institute. The student raised an alarm, following which institute security personnel intervened and handed the individual over to local police.”
The institute reiterated its stance on safety, stating, “IITM has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and remains committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all.”
