The student's tragic death has drawn sharp criticism across the country.
Odisha, Balasore Student Who Self-Immolated Dies, Why did she take the extreme step?
Balasore, Odisha: In a deeply disturbing development, the Odisha student who had suffered 95% burns after self-immolating in protest against alleged sexual harassment by the Head of the Education Department at Fakir Mohan College has died, India Today reported on Monday night.
The deceased was a second-year student enrolled in the integrated B.Ed. program at Fakir Mohan College in Balasore. She set herself on fire near the college gate on Saturday during a peaceful protest that had been ongoing since July 1. The protestors were demanding action against the HOD, accusing him of sexual harassment and the institution of ignoring her repeated pleas.
After the incident, the student was initially taken to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Doctors confirmed that her condition was critical, with severe damage to her kidneys and lungs. “At this moment, we cannot say anything conclusive,” Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, had said on Sunday.
The incident has sparked outrage across the state. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has formed an eight-member fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the student's drastic step. Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday condemned the BJP-led state government, calling it a case of “institutional apathy” and “criminal complicity” that pushed the young woman to the brink.
According to reports, the student had made repeated appeals for help, both to the college authorities and through social media.
On July 13, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance of the incident. The commission condemned the act and directed the Director General of Police, Odisha, to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation. An action-taken report has been demanded within three days.
The accused, Sameer Kumar Sahu, Head of the Education Department, has been arrested by the police.
The student’s tragic death has drawn sharp criticism across the country.
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