Odisha: Woman student immolates self over sexual harassment; principal suspended, teacher held

Balasore (Odisha) | A woman student of a college in Odisha's Balasore district, who had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against a teacher, on Saturday allegedly set herself on fire on the institute's campus and sustained 90 per cent burn injuries, police said.

Another male student, who attempted to save her, also suffered injuries and both were rushed to the district headquarters hospital here.

Later, she was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. A 12-member doctors' team has been formed to take care of the injured woman student, police said.

The incident took place this afternoon after the woman student met the principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, Dilip Kumar Ghose.

She had earlier lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Samira Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor (Stage-l) in Educational Studies, who is also the head of the department, and demanded action against him.

Taking a serious note of the self-immolation attempt by the woman student, the Odisha government placed the college principal 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.

Balaore Police have arrested the accused teacher Samira Kumar Sahu, an officer said.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to enquire about the health condition of the woman 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.

Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, who held a discussion with the college principal, students and other stakeholders, said, "This is highly condemnable and barbaric. I had spoken to the college principal 5-6 days ago. I had suggested to him to give compulsory leave to the accused teacher, but he did not listen."

Officials said that the woman was a second-year student of the Integrated B Ed programme in the college. She had also staged a protest on the college campus for one week demanding action against the teacher.

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."

Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said that the accused teacher has been arrested. A scientific team was investigating the matter on the spot.

Balasore MLA Manas Dutta, who visited the hospital, said, "The health condition of the woman student is critical. Our first priority is to save her life."

According to her friends, the woman student 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 authorities nor the police took any action against the accused teacher.

The incident has sparked tension on the college campus.

Meanwhile, the Opposition BJD strongly condemned the incident.

"We are shocked, about not only what has happened in Balasore today, but we are shocked more about what has been happening in Odisha in the past one month," BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said.

"One college girl is gang raped at Gopalpur beach and a couple is forced to plough land. Odisha is a peaceful place, and we have never seen such things happening in Odisha," he added.

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 the arrest of the college principal. The Balasore MP fails to provide justice to the student even as he was approached prior to the incident," the BJD statement added.

Demanding the resignation of the higher education minister, OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das alleged that the government failed to give justice to a college student who was forced to attempt suicide.

"Let the minister admit failure and resign," Das said.

Stating that the Balasore incident came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, at a public meeting here, expressed concern over safety of women in Odisha, Das said there is no permanent principal in any of the government colleges across the state.

"We pray for the recovery of the young woman who is struggling for survival after trying to die by suicide due to lack of justice," Das said.

He said the authorities were aware of the sexual favours demand of the teacher, but did nothing to protect the girl or provide justice leading to such an incident.

"We demand strict action against the culprits. The minister and officials of the higher education department are equally responsible for this incident," he added.