The student, a native of Puri district, was reportedly punished for talking to male classmates and denied phone access. “She called us, crying, saying she was being mentally tortured,” her brother said.
BY PC Bureau
July 19, 2025 — A 19-year-old student of Balasore’s Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College has died after setting herself ablaze, raising fresh alarm over the unchecked harassment of female students on Indian campuses.
The student, a first-year B.Sc. and second-year Integrated B.Ed. student, succumbed to her injuries on July 14 after battling for her life for four days in the ICU at SCB Medical College and later AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
According to early reports, the student had accused the head of the education department, Dr. Samir Kumar Sahu, of sexually harassing her and intimidating her with threats of academic failure. On July 13, the college’s Internal Complaints Committee exonerated the professor, allegedly without a transparent probe — prompting the young woman to set herself on fire outside the principal’s office the following day.
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“She had complained to everyone — from the Chief Minister to the Union Education Minister and even to the National Commission for Women. But no one acted,” said her brother, speaking outside the hospital. “She felt cornered and humiliated.”
Allegations of Abuse and Neglect
The incident has triggered widespread protests and drawn condemnation from women’s rights organizations, student unions, and political leaders.
In a shocking twist, the college administration reportedly lodged an FIR against journalist Ajit Anjum for covering similar instances of administrative misconduct at other institutions, fueling fears of a broader attempt to silence dissent and cover up institutional failures.
Family members of the deceased allege she had frequently complained about a toxic environment in the hostel, citing verbal abuse, restrictions on communication, and mental harassment by staff. “She was a bright, cheerful girl, but the last few weeks changed her. She became withdrawn and fearful,” said her mother.
The college management has denied wrongdoing but suspended the warden pending an inquiry. A three-member internal committee has been formed, and Commissionerate Police is conducting a parallel investigation. The Odisha State Commission for Women has also taken suo motu cognizance of the matter.
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A Pattern Across Campuses
Women’s rights activists argue the tragedy reflects a systemic failure across India’s educational institutions.
“This is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a pattern of moral policing, institutional negligence, and unchecked abuse of power,” said Pramila Mohapatra, a Bhubaneswar-based activist. “Hostels for women often function like prisons where students are treated with suspicion rather than care.”
Indeed, Odisha has witnessed similar controversies in recent years. In 2022, a women’s college made headlines when students were allegedly forced to strip during a hostel inspection to prove they weren’t menstruating. Cases from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka have also surfaced, revealing alarming lapses in student safety and mental health support.
A 20-year-old student in Odisha set herself on fire after her sexual harassment complaint against her professor was ignored.
He threatened her with bad grades. The college silenced her.
She died with 90% burns.
And still no justice.🙃 pic.twitter.com/PW2qWwfWCI— 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚂𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎𝚜 ✿◠‿◠) 🎀 (@VanshikaInStyle) July 15, 2025
Nation Reacts
On Monday, President Droupadi Murmu visited the victim in the burn unit at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and met with the grieving parents. Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati urged the state to act “with urgency, empathy, and accountability.”
Students held a candlelight vigil on campus, chanting slogans and demanding justice. “This isn’t just about one girl. We live in fear every day. If we speak out, we are punished. If we stay silent, we suffer alone,” said a fellow hostel resident.
The National Commission for Women has called for a time-bound judicial probe and sweeping reforms to grievance redressal mechanisms across India’s educational institutions.
“We cannot keep losing young lives to institutional apathy and abuse,” said activist lawyer Sneha Sahoo. “What happened to this student is horrific, but unless we dismantle the structures that enable such cruelty, more lives will be lost.”
As calls grow for the arrest of the accused professor, judicial oversight of the investigation, and national hostel reform policies, the tragedy has become a flashpoint in India’s ongoing struggle to ensure safe, supportive, and accountable environments for female students.
