Panaji: First year master's students of Goa University have accused their seniors of ragging and making vulgar remarks. The second year students have rubbished the allegations, saying that a professor they had accused of sexual harassment has instigated the juniors against them.

In their complaint to university officials, MA Political Science women students have accused the seniors of ragging them over a period of several months. They claimed that the women in the second year made "vulgar remarks" and "humiliated" them.

"A sub committee has already been formed to probe the ragging allegations. it will file its report within 15 days," Goa University registrar Mohan Sangodkar sources on Tuesday.

"We have a zero tolerance policy with regard to ragging and will not spare anyone who is involved in the act," he added.

Sangodkar said that ragging by the second year MA Political Science students was first reported in January and was looked into by the anti-ragging committee, which had suggested that a sub committee be formed to probe the matter thoroughly.

However, the students accused of ragging have claimed that a professor they had complained against to the Goa State Women's Commission was trying to extract revenge through the juniors.

The second year students had alleged in October last year that a senior professor attached to the political science department was sexually harassing some students.

"The sexual harassment came to light after one of our batch mates blurted out the horror story to us. We complained to the university authorities but to no avail so we told the women's commission about it. Now the professor has tried to instigate the freshers against us," one of the second year students told sources.

While the college authorities have refused to comment on the sexual harassment aspect, the Goa State Women's Commission has acknowledged receiving an oral complaint from students in October 2008.

"We did hear the students out orally. They complained of sexual harassment and molestation by a professor but we require a written complaint to proceed. The moment we get that an enquiry will be initiated," said Pramod Salgaokar, Chairman of the women's commission. IANS