Odisha Bandh Today Over Student’s Death: Opposition Unites After Self-Immolation Protest Against Sexual Harassment

Bhubaneswar, July 15, 2025 — A statewide Odisha bandh has been called by at least eight political parties, including the Congress, in protest against the tragic death of a 20-year-old college student who set herself on fire after alleging inaction over sexual harassment by a professor. The student, from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, died late Monday night after battling severe burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Student’s Allegations and Tragic Death

The victim, a second-year B.Ed (Integrated) student, had accused Samir Kumar Sahu, Head of the Education Department at her college, of repeated sexual advances. According to the student, Sahu had threatened to fail her if she resisted his harassment. She claimed to have informed Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the National Commission for Women (NCW), and the district police, but received no response.

The young woman took the drastic step of self-immolation just a day after the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) gave the accused a clean chit. She sustained 95% burn injuries and was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she remained on mechanical ventilation until her death at 11:46 PM on July 14, as confirmed in an official AIIMS bulletin.

Political Uproar and Demands for Accountability

The incident has sparked a massive political backlash across Odisha. Protests erupted outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar, with Opposition leaders accusing the BJP-led state government of attempting a cover-up. Demonstrators demanded the immediate dismissal of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

BJD leader Sulata Deo alleged that the government tried to conduct a hush-hush postmortem late at night to avoid public scrutiny. "Why was the postmortem done at 2 AM? The body was brought secretly so that people wouldn't find out," she said. Deo also confirmed that a BJD delegation met President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention.

Congress leader Yashir Nawaz echoed these concerns, saying, "This is a violation of justice. We are protesting because the government, along with police, tried to take away the body post-midnight."

National Outcry and President's Visit

President Droupadi Murmu, who hails from Odisha, visited the hospital before the student's death and assured her parents of all possible support. Expressing deep concern, the President has reportedly sought a detailed report on the incident.

BJD MLA Snehangini Chhuria made a strong statement, criticizing the government’s inaction. "The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ slogan has sadly turned into ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Jalao’ in Odisha today," she said.

Odisha CM Vows Strict Action

Reacting to the death, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed condolences and promised stringent legal action against those responsible. "I assure the family that the culprits will face the strictest punishment under the law," he said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).