A 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who set herself on fire on Saturday in protest against the inaction over her sexual harassment complaint, died late Monday night at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
“Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management… she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM on July 14.”
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured justice to the grieving family, vowing, “All those guilty will face the strictest punishment as per the law.”
President Droupadi Murmu visited the victim at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday and met her parents. Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati urged the state to act with "urgency, empathy and a sense of responsibility."
The deceased, a second-year B.Ed integrated student, immolated herself outside the principal’s chamber after an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) cleared Prof. Samir Kumar Sahu of sexual harassment charges.
She had earlier accused Sahu of making sexual advances and threatening her with failure in exams. The student, also associated with ABVP, had written to CM Majhi, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and others — but her plea went unanswered.
According to her father, the victim had faced continuous harassment for six months, including public humiliation, exam failure threats, and sexual coercion disguised under the pretext of low attendance.
Her friends said she was denied permission to sit for exams, verbally harassed by students allegedly instigated by Sahu, and even discouraged from participating in student union elections.
On June 25, she tweeted her complaint to top officials, including the CM, education ministers, and police. On June 30, she and ABVP members submitted a written complaint, after which the college announced the formation of an ICC — which, it turned out, didn’t exist prior to the incident.
The ICC, which was hastily formed, gave Sahu a clean chit by July 10, citing lack of evidence. However, officials later said the committee’s functioning was “ambiguous,” lacked proper counselling, and failed to shield the victim during the probe.
“The ICC randomly selected students and seemed to be making a perfunctory attempt,” said a higher education official. “The principal should not have allowed the professor to remain on campus during the inquiry.”
Following her death, police arrested Principal Dilip Ghosh, who allegedly shielded the accused and threatened the victim with rustication if she didn't withdraw her complaint.
Prof. Sahu was arrested soon after the self-immolation attempt.
On Monday, the Odisha government directed all universities and colleges to form Internal Committees within 24 hours, displaying their contact details publicly.
The incident has ignited widespread protests. BJD’s student wing and Congress leaders demonstrated outside Fakir Mohan College and the Balasore collector’s office. On Sunday, opposition parties tried to gherao CM Majhi’s residence, demanding resignations from Higher Education Minister Suraj Suryabanshi and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
As the CID and Balasore police continue their probe, the victim’s tragic death has become a flashpoint for calls for systemic reform in how sexual harassment cases are handled across Indian colleges.
“They will not let me exist peacefully,” she reportedly told her father on July 10 — four days before she took the extreme step.
