The tragic death of a college student in Balasore, Odisha, has ignited widespread outrage and protests, raising serious questions about sexual harassment, institutional accountability, and the systemic failures that led to the young woman's desperate act. The 20-year-old B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College reportedly died by suicide after being allegedly forced to apologize to her harasser and withdraw her complaint.
The student had accused the Head of the Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu, of sexual harassment. Reports indicate that she filed a formal police complaint on July 1st, a day after reporting the matter to the college principal and tagging state authorities on social media. Frustrated by the lack of action, she staged protests on the college campus for a week, demanding action against the professor. Despite her efforts to seek justice from the college principal and higher authorities, her pleas were allegedly ignored. According to reports, the college's internal complaints committee (ICC) submitted its report on July 9th but did not recommend any action regarding the alleged sexual harassment.
On July 12th, the student set herself on fire outside the principal's office during a student protest against the non-redressal of her grievance. Suffering from 95% burns, she was initially admitted to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital and later transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Despite intensive care, she was declared clinically dead on July 14th.
The incident sparked immediate protests. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers led protests calling for a "Balasore Bandh". Opposition parties have called for a bandh on July 17th to protest the incident.
In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced ₹20 lakh in interim compensation for the family and promised the "strictest action" against those responsible. Police have arrested the accused faculty member and the principal, who allegedly tried to pressure the student into withdrawing her complaint. The principal has been suspended for failing to respond appropriately to the victim's allegations and mishandling the grievance redressal process. The Odisha Higher Education Department cited the college's gross negligence in handling the harassment complaints.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the suicide. The committee is tasked with examining the incident, evaluating the institution's compliance with regulatory provisions, and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Crime Against Women and Children Wing of Odisha’s Crime Branch of Police is conducting a separate investigation into the matter.
This tragic event has triggered a nationwide conversation about the safety of women in educational institutions and the effectiveness of mechanisms designed to address sexual harassment. Critics point to systemic failures, lack of empathy, and poor enforcement of existing laws as contributing factors. The incident has also taken on a political dimension, with opposition leaders accusing the state government of inaction and demanding accountability.
