Balasore: A woman student of a college in Odisha’s Balasore district, who had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against a teacher, on Saturday, July 12, allegedly set herself on fire on the educational institute campus and sustained 90 per cent burn injury, police said.
Another student, who attempted to save her, also sustained 70 percent injuries. Both were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Later, she was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. A 12-member team of doctors has been formed to take care of the injured female student, police said.
The incident took place at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore.
Student was under severe mental stress
According to her friends, the female student, a second-year student of the Integrated B.Ed programme, was under severe mental stress for the past several days over the alleged harassment by the head of the department.
Her friends said that her agony was compounded as neither the college authority nor the police took any action against the accused teacher.
She had also staged a protest on the college campus for one week, demanding action against the teacher.
College principal Ghose said, “The student had come to me and wanted action against the teacher. I counselled her as she looked tense. She had lodged a complaint on June 30 and an internal complaint committee (ICC) inquiry was going on.”
The incident has sparked tension on the college campus.
Principal suspended, teacher held
The main accused, assistant professor in Educational Studies, Samira Kumar Sahu, who is also the head of the department, has been arrested.
Furthermore, the Odisha government placed the college principal, Dilip Kumar Ghose, and Sahu under suspension.
As Ghose has “failed” to perform his duties in the capacity of principal of the college, he is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect, an order issued by the Higher Education department said.
Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to inquire about the health condition of the woman student. “The government is committed to take stringent action in this matter,” the minister said.
The minister said a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted. “Further action will be taken based on the committee’s report,” he said.
Odisha govt to bear all medical expenses
Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to enquire about the health condition of the female student.
He said the government is committed to take stringent action in this matter.
“The government is bearing the medical expenses of the student. I pray to Lord Jagannath for her speedy recovery,” the minister said in an X post.
The minister also said that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted.
“Further action will be taken based on the committee’s report,” he said.
More rapes under BJP rule: BJD
Meanwhile, the Opposition BJD strongly condemned the incident. “We are shocked, not only about what has happened in Balasore today, but we are shocked more about what has been happening in Odisha in the past one month.”
“One college girl is gang raped at Gopalpur beach and a couple is forced to plough a land. Odisha is a peaceful place, and we have never seen such things happening in Odisha,” BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said.
The BJD in a statement held the state’s BJP government “responsible” for Balasore student suicide attempt and said that the students are even unsafe in colleges. “We demand arrest of college principal. Balasore MP fails to provide justice to student even as he was approached prior to the incident”, the BJD said.
Mohanty said a party delegation expressed solidarity with the student and family, and emphasised the need for justice and accountability in the matter.
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