Self-immolation bid by Odisha college student embarrasses BJP government

A day ahead of President Draupadi Murmu’s visit to All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar on Monday, 14 July, to grace its 5^th convocation, a 20-year-old girl from Balasore was admitted in the premier medical institute with 90 per cent burn injuries in a case that has caused acute embarrassment to the state’s BJP government, exposing its failure to protect the safety and dignity of women.

The second-year student of integrated B Ed course at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, one of the oldest educational institutions of the state, was rushed to Bhubaneswar in a critical condition after she set herself ablaze on the college campus protesting the failure of college authorities to ensure justice to her in a case of sexual harassment.

The girl, who hails from Bhograi area of Balasore district, bordering West Bengal, was forced to take the extreme step after she received no protection either from college principal Dillip Ghosh or the institution’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

The girl had complained that an assistant professor, who heads the education department of the college, was harassing her sexually and threatening to ruin her academic career. However, the college authorities instead of acting on her complaint and protecting her dignity tried to help the accused professor.

Frustrated, she set herself on fire on Saturday as her classmates watched helplessly. She was rushed to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar for treatment in a critical condition. Two male students who tried to save her also sustained burn injuries and had to be hospitalised.  

As the state erupted in protest with the two major opposition parties—Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress—holding demonstrations, the government placed both the college principal under suspension. The accused assistant professor Sahu has also been arrested.  

Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited AIIMS and spoke to the doctors treating the girl. He has assured the best possible treatment to the victim and to make arrangements for airlifting her to Delhi in case of need. “We will do whatever is required to save her. Action against the guilty will be taken after the inquiry committee submits its report,” he told reporters at the hospital.  

That the complaint against the accused professor was not taken seriously is also evident from the statement of former union minister and Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi. “I had asked the principal to ensure justice to her and I had also asked the girl to be brave. It’s a case of callousness,” Sarangi, a former union minister, told a private news channel.  

As BJD tried to gherao the chief minister’s residence in Bhubaneswar and Congress workers demonstrated on the streets, higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who is facing calls for resignation, announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe the incident.

“No one will be spared,” he assured but opposition parties continue to train their guns on him. “The girl had knocked at every door but no one listened to him. The higher education minister has no moral right to continue in office,” said BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray.

Youth Congress leader Yashir Nawaz made similar allegations against the government, accusing it of failing to protect the dignity of women. “Not a day passes without a woman either being raped or molested in the state. This government has no moral right to continue in office,” said the young leader.

The victim attempted self-immolation in Balasore a day after Rahul Gandhi addressed the “Samvidhaan Bachao (Save Constitution)” rally in Bhubaneswar where the main focus was on growing atrocities against women in Odisha, an issue on which the state Congress has been trying to build up a campaign.

Commenting on the Balasore shocker state Congress president Bhakta Charan Das wrote on X, “A day after Rahul Gandhi Ji said that women are not safe in Odisha, a shocking tragedy struck FM College, Balasore where a young girl attempted self-immolation and battling for life after failing to get justice. The authorities were aware of the sexual favours sought by the professor and harassment, but did not act on time to protect the girl or give her justice.”

Leader of the Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik expressed shock over the incident and sought Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati’s intervention.

“In our higher education framework, the governor serves as the chancellor of key government-run universities, including FM University. I urge the Hon’ble Governor (@GovernorOdisha) to intervene and ensure that the student receives the justice she so desperately sought,” said Patnaik in a post on X while praying for the recovery of the girl.

The condition of college student remained critical for the third consecutive day on Monday, hospital sources said.

The student's father, a resident of Balasore district, in an appeal to all people of Odisha, urged them to pray to Lord Jagannath for the recovery of his daughter as the doctors have already informed that there were no signs of improvement since her admission at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Saturday evening.

"We are also closely monitoring her blood sugar levels. Her internal organs have been severely impacted. We are offering round-the-clock and the best treatment facilities to her," the doctor said.

The Balasore incident has once again exposed the failure of Mohan Majhi government in protecting the dignity of women and checking crimes against them. It comes in the wake of two major cases of gang-rape taking place in the last one month, the first one occurring at a popular beach in Gopalpur which is a well-known tourist destination.

A college girl, who had gone to the beach along-with her boyfriend during the Raja festival that celebrates womanhood, was sexually assaulted by three men who were assisted by seven others including two minors. The accused tied up the hands of her boyfriend while they took turns to assault her.

“Odisha is becoming increasingly unsafe for women. The government has completely failed to provide them security,” said former MLA Dr. Lalatendu Mohapatra.

With PTI inputs