A dark cloud hangs over Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, Odisha, following the tragic death of a 20-year-old student who succumbed to burn injuries after allegedly setting herself ablaze. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and prompted a rigorous investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The young woman, an active member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), allegedly took the extreme step on July 12 after claiming her complaints of sexual harassment against the head of the Integrated BEd department, Samir Kumar Sahoo, were ignored by college authorities. She sustained critical burn injuries and died on July 14 while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Crime Branch of Odisha Police has been actively involved in the investigation, leading to several arrests. Assistant professor Samir Kumar Sahoo and the college's former principal, Dillip Ghose, were initially arrested on charges of abetment of suicide. More recently, two more individuals, Subhra Sambit Nayak, the state joint secretary of a student organization (ABVP), and Jyoti Prakash Biswal, a student who sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue the woman, have also been apprehended. They have been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days after their bail petitions were rejected.

The victim's friend revealed that the student had confided in her about the mental and academic harassment she had been experiencing at the hands of the Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, for months. The friend stated that Sahu threatened to fail her if she did not comply with his demands and used academic pressure to control her. She also alleged that the college principal dismissed the student's complaint instead of offering support and that the student had been living in fear and under immense pressure.

Adding another layer to the case, it has emerged that a majority of the victim's classmates had signed a letter supporting the accused professor. The letter, dated July 1, claimed that the woman's complaint was false and praised Sahoo as a "great teacher". The woman's brother, however, has alleged that the letter was part of a larger effort to obstruct a fair investigation.

The investigation is currently ongoing, with authorities looking into allegations of financial coercion, the potential involvement of other faculty members, and the possibility of an administrative cover-up. Classes at Fakir Mohan College had resumed on July 21 after a 10-day hiatus. The Crime Branch continues to record statements from staff and students as they work to uncover the truth behind this devastating incident.

This tragic event has not only deeply affected the college community but has also raised serious questions about the safety and support systems available to students who experience harassment in educational institutions. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing such complaints with sensitivity, impartiality, and a commitment to ensuring justice for all.