Student at FM College suffered critical burns in protest against Sexual harassment. HoD arrested, principal suspended; govt orders independent probe amid ongoing student unrest
OdishaPlus Bureau
A young woman, a student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College Balasore, is battling for her life after setting herself on fire on campus this past Saturday. The shocking act was reportedly a protest against alleged sexual harassment by a department head and the failure of the college administration to address her repeated complaints.
In the aftermath of the incident, which has sent shockwaves across the state, authorities have arrested Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, the Head of the Education Department. The college principal, Dilip Ghosh, has also been suspended from his duties pending a full investigation.
The horrific event took place during a student demonstration at the college gates. Eyewitnesses reported that the student, a second-year Integrated B.Ed scholar, moved away from the main protest, doused herself with an inflammable liquid, and lit the fire. She sustained over 90 percent burns, as reported.
After initial treatment at the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital, she was moved to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar given the critical nature of her injuries. A fellow male student who courageously attempted to extinguish the flames also suffered serious burns and is undergoing treatment.
Student sources allege that the woman had been enduring immense mental agony due to persistent harassment from Professor Sahoo. He is accused of demanding inappropriate favors from the student and threatening to destroy her academic future.
Frustrated by the alleged harassment, the woman had formally lodged a complaint on June 30. Students claim that the subsequent internal inquiry by the college was a sham. They allege the committee was biased, excluded student representatives, and was designed to protect the accused professor. This perceived institutional inaction led to the student protest on Saturday.
Just before the self-immolation attempt, the woman had met with the college principal. The principal later stated he had convened a meeting with both the student and the accused faculty, where the faculty denied the claims. The principal also noted that the internal committee had found no evidence to support the allegations of sexual exploitation. The student set herself on fire shortly after leaving this meeting.
The incident has triggered a swift and strong response from the Odisha government. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj confirmed the actions taken against the faculty and the principal of the college. A high-level committee has now been formed to conduct an independent investigation into the handling of the student’s complaint by the college authorities. It also emerged that Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi had been previously alerted to the situation and had advised the principal to place the accused faculty on leave.
The campus of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College remains tense as students continue to demand justice and a transparent investigation, holding the administration accountable for its failure to protect its student.