A week after the arrest of 59-year-old Shoma Sen from Nagpur over alleged Maoist links, the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), where she was the head of the English department, suspended her yesterday. Shocked colleagues and associates said the reason will be clear only after they see the suspension letter.

On June 6, the Pune police, which is probing the December 31 Elgaar Parishad, organised to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Koregoan-Bhima, and a "provocative" speech delivered there that allegedly triggered the violence, had arrested Sen, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling and Mahesh Raut along with members of the Kabir Kala Manch. All have been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.