Odisha Student's Tragic Death Sparks Outrage After Alleged Harassment

BALASORE, Jul 15 (PTI) The tragic story of a college student’s demise unfolded as her body returned to her village in Odisha’s Balasore district on Tuesday, following her self-immolation due to alleged sexual harassment by a professor.

The student succumbed at AIIMS Bhubaneswar late Monday night, having fought for her life for approximately 60 hours.

After the postmortem examination at the hospital, her body was sent to her native village. Thousands, including Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, district officials, and numerous villagers, gathered at the crematorium to pay their respects. The student was cremated in the presence of her grieving family and community members.

The shocking incident has provoked demands from locals for strict action against those responsible, highlighting the outrage within the community.

A villager described the young woman as someone active in her community, especially during natural disasters such as floods. “She was always ready to help the administration move women to safer locations during such times,” shared a resident of Basta, a flood-prone area in Balasore.

A teacher at the crematorium expressed disbelief over her suicide, emphasizing her mental strength and academic brilliance. "She would never have ended her life this way unless she felt utterly denied justice," he stated.

The student’s grandfather lamented the government’s failure to provide justice, suggesting this drove her to the drastic step. “She reached out to everyone, from the MLA to the Union minister,” echoed another villager.

The 20-year-old B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College had reportedly accused Samira Kumar Sahu, the Head of the Education Department, of sexual harassment.

In a desperate move to seek justice, she set herself ablaze on the college grounds on Saturday, in protest against what she perceived as the inaction against the professor, ultimately sustaining 95 percent burns.

She was initially admitted to the Balasore district hospital and subsequently shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced medical treatment.

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