Foreigner abused at NIRD

By Our Correspondent
Hyderabad, Jan. 29: A controversy erupted at the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) at Rajendranagar after some staff members alleged that a senior official of the institute tried to molest a foreign woman delegate.
However, the institute denied the allegation and said it was a nuisance case caused by a room bearer and the matter has been reported to the local police.
According to NIRD staff members, a woman delegate from a Latin American country has been undergoing a two-month training programme here. She has been staying in a guest house. Reportedly, this woman registered a complaint to the NIRD senior authorities alleging that one of the officials misbehaved with her. The staffers alleged that the senior management tried to hush up the issue and was trying to persuade the woman to change her mind.
Senior officials of the institute, however, denied this allegation. They said such an incident never took place. The institute has lodged complaint with Rajendranagar police. The police, based on the complaint filed by the security officer, registered a case against a room attendant and has arrested him.
According to Mr Sarveshwar Reddy, the ACP Rajendranagar, the police arrested one Maheshwar and produced him in court.
“He was shouting while working, which caused disturbance to the residents,” Mr Sarveshwar Reddy said. According to him, there are as many as 40 participants from different countries currently staying on the campus. He refuted the molestation allegation.