In Balasore, Odisha, two teachers have been taken into custody following accusations of repeated sexual and mental harassment made by a Class 9 student. The accused include the headmaster of a government-run high school and a mathematics teacher from Charmar Gaon.

The victim's family filed a complaint on Saturday, leading to the apprehension of the teachers from their homes by Raibania police. The girl alleged that the mathematics teacher had been molesting her repeatedly. She also claimed that the headmaster failed to take any action despite being informed of the situation.

This is not an isolated incident in Odisha. Earlier this month, a student at Fakir Mohan College in Balasore set herself ablaze after alleging sexual harassment by her Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu. The student, enrolled in the integrated B.Ed program, had filed a complaint on July 1st, stating that Sahu had repeatedly asked for "favors" and threatened to ruin her academic prospects if she refused. Despite submitting complaints to the college principal and police, she felt no action was taken.

Fellow students reported that the woman had been suffering from mental distress for weeks due to the persistent harassment. On the day of the incident, she met with the college principal and shortly after, set herself on fire near the principal's office. She sustained critical burn injuries and is currently receiving treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A student who attempted to save her also suffered burn injuries.

In response to the self-immolation incident, the Odisha Higher Education Department took immediate disciplinary measures, suspending both the college principal and the accused teacher. Police arrested Samir Kumar Sahu, and a thorough investigation is underway, involving forensic analysis and scrutiny of the college's internal complaints committee report.

These recent events highlight the urgent need for stricter measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students in educational institutions across Odisha. They also underscore the importance of promptly addressing complaints of sexual harassment and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.