Odisha – A tragic incident has shocked Odisha, where a 20-year-old female student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore lost her life after setting herself on fire on July 12. She had reportedly taken this extreme step after facing continued sexual harassment by a professor and receiving no action from the college.
The student, a B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education) second-year pupil, had filed a detailed complaint against Professor Samir Kumar Sahu on July 1. She accused him of sexually harassing her over the past few months, even making threats to her safety. The complaint was submitted to the college’s Internal Complaints Committee.
However, after more than 10 days, when no action was taken, the student, along with her classmates, staged a protest in front of the principal’s office on July 12. During the protest, in a shocking turn of events, she poured petrol on herself and set herself on fire. A teacher who tried to save her also suffered minor burn injuries.
She was immediately rushed to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital, but due to the severity of her injuries — with 90% of her body burned — she was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Doctors tried their best to save her, but she could not survive. She was declared dead at 11:46 PM on July 14.
The news has sparked widespread anger across the state. The Odisha government swiftly responded by arresting Professor Samir Kumar Sahu and suspending the college principal. Authorities said both may face serious charges, including abetment to suicide and negligence.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the victim’s family at AIIMS and assured them that strict action would be taken. He said the state will ensure such incidents never happen again. President Droupadi Murmu also visited the hospital to meet the girl’s family and offered her condolences.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women has asked the Director General of Odisha Police to investigate the matter thoroughly and submit a report within three days. The victim’s mother has demanded the harshest punishment for those responsible for her daughter’s death.
This heartbreaking incident has created a wave of sorrow across Odisha and raised serious questions about campus safety and how sexual harassment cases are handled in educational institutions.
