UGC Fact-Finding Team Begins Probe into FM College Student’s Death; BJD Demands Judicial Probe
The panel commenced its probe with a thorough inspection of the college premises and a series of meetings with the institution's authorities.
Bhubaneswar: A four-member fact-finding team from the University Grants Commission (UGC), led by Professor Raj Kumar Mittal, on Friday began its investigation into the alleged self-immolation of a female student at Fakir Mohan (FM) College in Balasore, Odisha.
The panel commenced its probe with a thorough inspection of the college premises and a series of meetings with the institution's authorities. The team is expected to examine the circumstances leading to the student's death, assess the role of the college administration, and evaluate possible lapses in handling earlier complaints by the deceased.
Sources said the UGC team will interact with eight to nine students, particularly those who were present during the incident or had previously submitted grievances. Faculty members, staff, and members of the college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) have also been summoned for questioning. The ICC has reportedly been served a notice to appear before the panel, as the probe is expected to be exhaustive and detailed.
In parallel, the Odisha Crime Branch is conducting a separate investigation into the case. On Thursday, it questioned several individuals, including the owner of the petrol pump from which the inflammable substance was allegedly procured. CCTV footage from the college campus has been seized, and the agency is coordinating with the local police involved in the initial inquiry.
The case has raised several troubling questions — notably, whether the student had previously indicated her intention to take such a drastic step and if any of her complaints were ignored or suppressed. The UGC team is also exploring whether she was provoked or abetted by anyone to commit self-immolation.
While both the UGC and the Crime Branch are conducting independent probes, their lines of inquiry are expected to converge on key issues: the college's administrative response, potential institutional failures, and any external factors that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, political pressure over the case has intensified. The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday renewed its demand for a judicial inquiry, calling the ongoing Crime Branch probe "inadequate" and lacking transparency.
BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra announced that the party would hold statewide demonstrations on July 21 at the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) offices in Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Berhampur to press for an independent judicial probe.
"This is not just about one student," Mishra said. "It is about ensuring accountability and justice within our educational institutions."
The tragic incident at FM College continues to send shockwaves across Odisha, spotlighting systemic gaps in grievance redressal mechanisms within higher education institutions and prompting calls for urgent reforms.
