A 20-year-old B.Ed. student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, who had attempted self-immolation on campus following alleged prolonged sexual harassment, died late Monday night at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The woman, who sustained 90 percent burns, was admitted to the hospital on July 12 after being referred from Balasore District Headquarters Hospital.
A statement from AIIMS Bhubaneswar’s Burn Centre Department confirmed her death at 11:46 PM on July 14. Despite intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, IV support, antibiotics, and renal therapy, the student could not be revived.
Despite intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, IV support, antibiotics, and renal therapy, the student could not be revived.
Expressing grief, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi posted on X, “I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the demise of the female student from FM Autonomous College. Despite the government’s fulfilment of all responsibilities and the tireless efforts of the expert medical team, the victim’s life could not be saved.”
ଫକୀର ମୋହନ ସ୍ୱୟଂଶାସିତ ମହାବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ପୀଡ଼ିତା ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ। ସରକାରଙ୍କ ସମସ୍ତ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ନିର୍ବାହ ତଥା ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞ ଡାକ୍ତରୀ ଦଳଙ୍କ ଅକ୍ଲାନ୍ତ ପରିଶ୍ରମ ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ପୀଡ଼ିତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ରକ୍ଷା ହୋଇପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ । ତାଙ୍କର ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ଅପୂରଣୀୟ…
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 14, 2025
He added that “all those guilty in this case will face the strictest punishment as per the law,” and confirmed that he had personally instructed authorities to act swiftly.
According to fellow students, the woman had been under severe mental stress for weeks due to alleged harassment by Sameer Kumar Sahoo, Head of the Integrated B.Ed. Department. They claimed she had submitted multiple complaints to both the college principal and local police, but no concrete action was taken. Though an internal complaints committee was reportedly formed, students said it made little progress.
The student set herself on fire shortly after a meeting with Principal Dillip Kumar Ghosh on Saturday. Following the incident, Ghosh was arrested and remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
Political Fallout and Protests
The incident has triggered widespread outrage. Opposition parties held protests in Bhubaneswar and Balasore, accusing the ruling BJP government of failing to ensure women’s safety. The student’s mother has demanded capital punishment for the accused, while her father held the principal responsible for her death.
As of now, both the Head of Department and the principal have been arrested, and the Odisha Higher Education Department has suspended them from service. The government has reiterated its commitment to deliver justice to the victim’s family.
