‘AMU should issue public posthumous apology to gay professor’

NEW DELHI - A group of activists and members of the sexual minority community Monday staged a protest in the capital demanding that the gay Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) professor who was found dead last week and was earlier suspended for gross misconduct be issued a public posthumous apology.

S.R. Siras, the deceased professor, was earlier suspended after he was filmed during a consensual homosexual act with a rickshaw puller in his home on the campus. The Allahabad high court later stayed his suspension.

Siras was found dead in his residence April 7 with blood oozing out his mouth.

Strongly voicing a collective opinion Gautam Bhan, one of the protestors, said: Morality cannot legally be used as a ground for restricting the fundamental right to dignity, privacy and autonomy of any individual.

AMU should appoint a committee to look into instances of such moral policing. The vice chancellor should be immediately suspended for his part in the persecution of Dr. Siras, he added.

Another protestor said: A public posthumous apology should be issued by the vice chancellor to the late professor Siras.

The protest which was held in the heart of the capital in Connaught Place saw the participation of around 100 people.

The protestors which included students, activists and others held banners demanding justice for Siras and an impartial enquiry into his death.

Among their other demands was also that action should be taken against the journalists who filmed Siras in his home.

On Saturday the police said that a first information report (FIR) was registered against four AMU officials and some journalists for breaching the privacy of Siras.