Odisha: College Student Attempts Self-immolation
She alleged harassment by a senior faculty member
Bhubaneswar: A female student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, is battling for her life after attempting self-immolation on Saturday, allegedly following months of harassment by a senior faculty member and inaction by college authorities.
The incident occurred outside the college gate during a student protest demanding justice for the victim. Eyewitnesses said the young woman doused herself with petrol and set herself ablaze, shocking fellow students and passersby. She was rushed to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital with over 90 per cent burns before being shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack due to the critical nature of her condition.
The latest reports indicate that the girl has been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, for advanced medical care. Meanwhile, the accused faculty member, Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, has reportedly been taken into custody by Sahadebkhunta police.
According to students and sources on campus, the victim had accused the head of the education department, Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, of persistently demanding inappropriate favours and issuing threats about sabotaging her academic future. “She confided in us multiple times about the mental agony she was facing. The HOD would repeatedly harass her and threaten to ruin her career,” alleged a student witness.
While the college had reportedly constituted an internal inquiry committee to look into the complaints, students accused the administration of shielding the accused.
“The committee excluded student representatives and included only faculty members, some allegedly close to the accused. It was a sham investigation designed to bury the truth,” another student charged.
On Saturday, as students staged a sit-in protest inside the campus demanding action, the victim allegedly stepped away from the crowd before immolating herself. Several students sustained minor injuries while trying to save her.
Reacting to the incident, Fakir Mohan College Principal Dilip Ghosh confirmed that the victim had met him earlier that day, reiterating her allegations against Sahoo and demanding immediate action.
“I had called both the student and the teacher to my office. The internal committee had earlier reported no conclusive evidence, but the girl was firm on her claims. After counselling both, I stepped away, and minutes later, we heard screams,” Ghosh said.
The incident has sparked outrage on campus and across Odisha, with students demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and an independent, transparent investigation. Civil rights groups and student bodies have also called for government intervention, accountability from the college management, and justice for the victim.
