‘I Have Lost Peace’: Victim’s Warning Letter Ignored by College, Odisha College Student Dies After Self-Immolation

A 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after being burned 90–95% of the way through. On July 12, the young woman set herself on fire in front of the principal's office. She said that her Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, had sexually harassed her. On July 1, she sent a written report to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) making it clear that she would take extreme action if nothing was done.

No Action Right Away: College Is Being Examined

Even though her complaint was very serious, college officials did not move quickly. As a result, the student's frantic protest turned into a suicide bombing that killed them. She was taken to the local hospital first, and then she was moved to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. She was hurt badly and died on July 14 at 11:46 PM. A team of doctors and nurses tried to save her.

CM Mohan Majhi comes to visit and announces action

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi went to the hospital before she died and spoke out against what happened. He said that both the HOD and the college president, Dilip Ghose, would be arrested and suspended. There is now a special probe going on between the Higher Education Department and the Crime Branch's Women and Children Wing.

Attention across the country and NHRC involvement

President Droupadi Murmu, who was in Bhubaneswar for an event, went to see the student in the ICU to show how the case affected the whole country. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) wants a report on what was done within 15 days. It has also asked local governments to keep all proof and support measures safe.

Uproar in politics and a bandh call

All kinds of political groups have responded strongly. Congress has called for a bandh in Odisha on July 17 and wants the CBI or a court to look into the matter. The Congress and the BJD both said that the ruling BJP didn't do enough and asked the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister to step down.

Call for Changes to Campus Safety

This horrible event has shown that there are major problems with the way college students can file complaints. The public and government outcry shows that Internal Complaints Committees need to be strengthened right away so that people who are sexually harassed can get justice quickly.