"There should be counselling in all the colleges of Odisha"
Father of Self-Immolation Victim from Balasore, Odisha Demands Harshest Punishment for Accused
20 year Old Self-Immolation Victim from Balasore, Odisha Latest News: The father of the 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, who allegedly attempted self-immolation after facing sexual harassment, has demanded the harshest punishment for the accused professor. The girl, currently battling for her life with 95% burn injuries, reportedly took the extreme step after repeated complaints to college authorities were ignored.
The grieving father told ANI, “She has 95% burns. Doctors have said they are trying their best and are also in touch with AIIMS Delhi. CM sir also came here yesterday. She had complained, but the principal did not pay heed to it. There were 2–4 complaints against the accused professor, yet I was asked to wait for the internal committee report.”
He further stated, “My demand is that the culprit should be given the harshest punishment. There should be counselling in all the colleges of Odisha, and strict steps should be taken so that such an incident does not happen again.”
The girl, who pleaded with the authorities multiple times for justice before resorting to this act, has sustained severe burn injuries affecting her lungs and kidneys. On Sunday, Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, commented on her condition, saying, “At this moment, we cannot say anything conclusive.”
The accused, HOD Sameer Kumar Sahu, has been arrested by the police.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has constituted an eight-member fact-finding committee to probe the incident. According to ANI, the panel is headed by State Women’s Wing President Meenakshi Bahinipati, with Congress MLA Sofia Firdous among its members.
Reacting strongly, Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the BJP government, pointing to what he described as institutional apathy and criminal complicity. “The victim was an ABVP office-bearer in a BJP-ruled state. If this is the fate of their own, what can ordinary women — with no access to power networks — in Odisha and beyond, possibly expect?” he asked.
Khera further alleged, “Women across India feel unsafe — especially because of the ruling party’s tendency to stand with the accused instead of the victim, to shield the rapists instead of the raped.”
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case and directed the authorities to provide free medical care and submit an action-taken report within three days.
Investigations are currently underway.
(For more news apart from “Odisha Congress Forms Fact-Finding Committee on Balasore Self-Immolation Case, Pawan Khera Slams BJP,” stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
