A 20-year-old student from FM Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, has tragically died after setting herself on fire due to alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member. The student, who had previously lodged a formal complaint against the Head of Department (HoD), took the extreme step after claiming her pleas were ignored by college authorities.
The incident occurred on Saturday, July 12, 2025, when the undergraduate student self-immolated in a college corridor. She had accused assistant professor Samir Kumar Sahu, head of the education department, of sexual harassment and alleged that he threatened to sabotage her academic record if she did not comply with his demands. Prior to the self-immolation, the student staged a sit-in protest near the college campus, demanding action against the accused.
Following the incident, the student was rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with 90% burn injuries. Two male students who attempted to save her also sustained burn injuries and were admitted to the hospital. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she succumbed to her injuries. AIIMS Bhubaneswar had formed a high-level expert committee to oversee and monitor her treatment.
The state government has taken swift action in response to the incident. Odisha's Higher Education Minister, Suryavanshi Suraj, stated that the government has taken stringent action, suspending the college principal, Dilip Ghosh, and arresting the accused teacher, Samir Kumar Sahu. The Odisha government has also ordered a probe into the incident. The government has pledged to cover all medical expenses for the student and her friend who was injured while trying to save her.
Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi revealed that the student had approached him with her complaint a few days prior, expressing her distress and suicidal thoughts. Sarangi stated he advised her against taking such drastic measures and assured her that she would receive justice. He also raised concerns about the internal inquiry committee of the college, alleging bias towards protecting the accused HoD.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and has sought an Action Taken Report from the Odisha Police chief within three days. The NCW has condemned the incident and directed the Director General of Police, Odisha, to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation and to take strict action against the accused. The NCW has also directed the state government to provide all necessary medical and psychological support to the victim free of cost.