AISA expels JNU rape accused from primary membership

New Delhi, Aug. 21 (ANI): After a first-year PhD student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday accused an All India Students' Association (AISA) activist, Anmol Ratan, of raping her, taking a serious note of the allegation, the organisation expelled Ratan from the primary membership, stating that they stand by the complainant in her fight for justice. "AISA takes serious note of the fact that Ratan, a leading activist of AISA, is facing a criminal complaint of sexual assault. He is, henceforth, expelled from the primary membership of AISA. AISA will reflect on and deal with this issue with all the firmness it deserves," said Ashutosh Kumar, AISA's Delhi State Secretary, in a statement. "AISA will be unflinching for the principles of gender justice even if it involves a leading member of the organisation. We stand by the complainant in her fight for justice," he added. Earlier, following the complaint by the 28-year-old victim, the Vasant Kunj (North) Police Station registered a case in this connection under sections 376 (punishment for rape) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The victim claimed that in June, she had asked in a Facebook post for a copy of movie 'Sairat', to which the accused responded that he got a copy, said police. On August 20, the accused picked up the victim from her hostel on the pretext of providing her a copy of the movie, said police, adding that he took her to his Brahamputra hostel, where he offered her some "laced" drink and allegedly raped her. Police further said the accused did not allow her to leave the hostel and also threatened her too. Police are investigating the matter. (ANI)