Different day, same rot: Trinamool slams BJP after Odisha student self-immolates

A second-year college student in Odisha's Balasore set herself ablaze on campus after accusing her HOD of sexual harassment. The student sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and her condition remains to be critical.

In Short

• Odisha student set herself on fire over sexual harassment by HOD
• Suffered 95% burns, male rescuer has 70% burns, both critical
• Opposition blame BJP for campus safety failure, demand arrests

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the BJP government after a college student in Odisha’s Balasore district set herself on fire following repeated sexual harassment allegedly by her Head of Department. The student, battling for her life with over 90 per cent burns, had accused her HOD of demanding sexual favours and threatening to ruin her future if she did not comply.

"Different day, different victim — same rot under BJP's watch. In Balasore, Odisha, a student was forced to set herself ablaze after her HOD demanded sexual favours and threatened to ruin her future. She is battling with 95% burns. A fellow student who tried to save her has suffered 70% burns" Trinamool posted on its official X handle.

"The silence of Mohan Charan Manjhi is disgraceful, and the absence of any condemnation from PM Modi only reaffirms what we already know: ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is a FARCE," it added.

The horrific incident took place on Saturday afternoon at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College when the young woman, a second-year Integrated B.Ed student, met Principal Dilip Kumar Ghose to press for action against Assistant Professor Samira Kumar Sahu — who was also her HOD — whom she had accused of sexual harassment, officials said.

Moments later, she allegedly poured kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze on the campus.

A male student who tried to rescue her suffered 70 per cent burns. Both were initially admitted to the district headquarters hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. A 12-member medical team is monitoring her condition, which remains critical.

Odisha's Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj called the incident "deeply unfortunate" and said the government was handling it very sensitively. "The accused HOD and the principal have been suspended and the teacher has been arrested. A high-level committee has been sent from Bhubaneswar to investigate. The government will bear all medical expenses," Suraj said.

Police have confirmed that Samira Kumar Sahu has been arrested and a forensic team was examining the scene. Principal Ghose was suspended for "failing to perform his duties", the Higher Education Department said.

ODISHA GOVERNMENT FORMS PROBE

The Odisha government has formed a three-member committee to investigate the Balasore student self-immolation case.

Committee member and director of the HOD, Kaliprasanna Mohapatra, says, "A thorough investigation will be conducted. We will call people by sending them notices and will submit a report to the government after completing the investigation."

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has formed an eight-member fact-finding committee headed by state women's wing president Meenakshi Bahinipati to inquire into the incident. Congress MLA Sofia Firdous has been named in the panel.

Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Police detained several NSUI workers protesting against the incident.

POLITICAL STORM OVER INCIDENT

The tragedy has triggered a political storm. The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) termed the case 'barbaric' and held the BJP government responsible for failing to protect students on campus. "We are shocked not just by this, but by what Odisha has become in the past month. One student gang-raped at Gopalpur beach, now this. This is not the Odisha we know," BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said.

The party also demanded the principal’s arrest and questioned the role of Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, who admitted he had earlier advised the principal to send the accused on leave - a suggestion that was ignored.

The Congress, too, lashed out at the state government. Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das demanded the resignation of the Higher Education Minister, saying, "Authorities knew the student was under threat but did nothing. Let the minister admit failure and resign".

The young woman had reportedly staged a week-long protest on campus demanding action against Sahu, but her friends claimed the administration and police failed to act. According to the college principal, she had filed a written complaint on June 30 and an internal inquiry was underway.

- Ends