BHUBANESWAR, July 15— A 20-year-old college student in Odisha, who set herself on fire after allegedly being ignored over her sexual harassment complaint, died late Monday night at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, triggering a political storm and calls for top-level resignations.
The student, a second-year integrated BEd pupil at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, had suffered 95% burns after immolating herself on campus Saturday. She had accused the college’s head of the Education department, Professor Samira Kumar Sahu, of sexually harassing her, and took the extreme step over what she described as institutional inaction.
According to hospital officials, she was treated in the ICU of the Department of Burn Centre and was on ventilator support. “Despite all efforts, including IV resuscitation, mechanical ventilation and renal therapy, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 pm on July 14,” AIIMS stated.
Her written complaint, dated July 1 and submitted to the Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) of the college, is now being treated as the formal FIR. Police arrested Sahu on Saturday, and on Monday, college principal Dillip Kumar Ghose was taken into custody on charges of abetment to suicide.
DIG (Eastern Range) Satyajit Naik said a dedicated Swift Trial Initiative (STI) team comprising investigators, forensic experts, and prosecutors has been formed to expedite the probe. “The STI team is collecting medical records, digital evidence and conducting forensic analysis to build a strong case. The investigation will be fast, coordinated and legally sound,” he added.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and vowed harshest punishment for those responsible. “Despite all efforts by doctors and the government, we could not save her. I assure her family that the culprits will not be spared,” he posted on X.
President Droupadi Murmu, who was at AIIMS Bhubaneswar for its convocation on Monday, made an unscheduled visit to the burn ward to enquire about the student’s condition hours before her death.
However, the late-night post-mortem and transfer of the body to her native village of Palasia in Balasore district sparked protests from opposition BJD and Congress members, who staged a sit-in at the hospital campus. Police had to forcibly remove the protestors to make way for the vehicle carrying her body.
BJD leader Ipsita Sahoo accused the state government of “hiding its failure” and demanded the resignation of Higher Education Minister Suraj Suryabanshi. “They rushed the post-mortem overnight to cover up incompetence,” she alleged.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called the death an “organised murder” by the BJP-run system. “That brave student raised her voice against sexual exploitation — but instead of justice, she was threatened, harassed, and humiliated repeatedly,” he posted on X.
Congress youth leader Syed Yashir Nawaz echoed the sentiment. “She moved from pillar to post, but no one listened. This wasn’t suicide—it was a system-induced death,” he said, demanding the minister’s resignation.
Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, a BJP leader, acknowledged lapses at the college level. “The principal did not monitor the ICC’s investigation properly. In fact, he reportedly told the student her allegation was false, which may have led her to take this tragic step,” he said.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and local MLA Babu Singh visited the hospital late Monday to console the victim’s family.
As outrage continues to mount, the focus now turns to how swiftly authorities deliver justice in a case that has stirred public conscience across political and social lines.
