Balasore girl who set herself ablaze over harassment dies

Bhubaneswar: A 20-year-old student, who set herself on fire protesting alleged inaction on her sexual harassment complaint against her department head in Balasore, tragically succumbed to her injuries late Monday night after a 60-hour battle for life, triggering massive protests from political parties.

The Odisha govt had earlier arrested and suspended the teacher concerned. The principal was also arrested for trying to persuade the girl to withdraw her complaint. Despite the govt saying that the purview of the probe would expand in the case, her death intensified political blame game with opposition BJD and Congress alleging a "system failure" leading to the girl's untimely death.

While the University Grants Commission (UGC) formed a fact-finding team, governor Hari Babu Kambhampati promised "uncompromising punishment" against those responsible.

On Tuesday, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced Rs 20 lakh interim aid for the bereaved family of the second-year integrated BEd student who poured petrol on herself inside the govt-run college in full public view and set herself on fire, moments after she met the principal.

The girl initially reported the matter to the college principal on June 30 and posted her ordeal in a social media post, tagging authorities and reported the matter to the police on July 1.

The student was initially rushed to Balasore district headquarters hospital following the incident on Saturday afternoon before being transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, around 200km away.

Despite intensive medical intervention, including renal replacement therapy, she was declared clinically dead late on Monday, according to an AIIMS Bhubaneswar statement.

The cremation was conducted at her native village in Balasore with family members and govt officials present amid palpable public anger and grief.

Governor Kambhampati, who is also chancellor of universities, took to X, expressing his anguish and emphasising the need for campus safety. "Her passing is not just a tragedy — it is a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard our campuses. The law will take its toughest course. Those responsible will face uncompromising punishment," he stated.

After a high-level meeting chaired by deputy chief ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, and attended by other ministers and MLAs, revenue minister Suresh Pujari announced the scope of the investigation would expand to include all those responsible.

The incident sparked strong political reactions, with Congress calling for an Odisha bandh on Tuesday. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi termed it "an organised murder by the BJP's system", while former CM and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik described it as "institutional betrayal", urging the governor to ensure accountability.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan countered Rahul, saying, "The cheap politics played by Rahul Gandhi and Congress on the tragic incident is extremely unfortunate. Turning a serious and sensitive matter into a political weapon reflects Rahul's petty mindset," he said.

Countering Naveen, Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi drew a comparison between the current Majhi govt's swift response and the previous administration under Naveen, noting that crimes against women during the BJD leader's tenure did not receive such immediate attention or action.