Academic exploited students as servants

WASHINGTON : A US university is investigating allegations an Indian-origin professor had “mistreated” students who were forced to do housework for him and wait on guests at parties and gatherings hosted by him.

Expressing concern and dismay at allegations in a local news publication that some students may have been “mistreated by Dr Ashim Mitra while pursuing their degrees,” Mauli Agarwal, chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said in a statement that the university will review the report, continue an ongoing investigation and expand it to include new claims.

The Kansas City Star reported on Sunday that Mitra, who heads the department of pharmacy at the Missouri university, had for decades forced students, mostly of Indian origin, to tend his lawn, look after his dog, serve guests at off-campus cultural events and drain his flooded basement.

“I considered my life at UMKC nothing more than modern slavery,” Kamesh Kuchimanchi, one of the students, told the paper.

He added that when he had complained once to Mitra, he allegedly threatened to have him kicked out of the course and have his student visa revoked.

There had been no response from Mitra to a request for comments from Hindustan Times till the filing of this report.

The professor denied the allegations in statement to the Star by his attorney.

“Over the years, I have invited graduate students to my home where they have done work related to their courses of study, and at times eaten meals prepared by my wife.”