Bhubaneswar, July 21: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday held a demonstration outside the Revenue Divisional Commissioner’s (RDC) office in Odisha, protesting the alleged failure of the state government in addressing rising crimes against women. The protest was triggered by the tragic death of a student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who succumbed to severe burn injuries after an attempted self-immolation.
Protesting in front of RDC office at Sambalpur, Senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, citing their inability to ensure the safety of women and students.
"When this government came to power, they promised to curb atrocities against women. But the reality has been the opposite—cases of violence against women are rising," Acharya said. "A girl was recently set ablaze in Puri. What is this government doing? The Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister must take responsibility and step down."
The 20-year-old Balasore victim had reportedly faced prolonged sexual harassment from the Head of Department at her college. She set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12 and died two days later at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, having sustained more than 90 percent burn injuries. Her death has sparked widespread outrage across the state.
In a separate incident, a 15-year-old girl from the Nimapada block in Puri district is battling for her life after being set on fire by unidentified assailants. The victim, who suffered 70 percent burns, was initially treated at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and later airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for advanced care. According to her cousin, she was abducted while out with friends and set ablaze near a riverside under the Balanga police limits.
These back-to-back incidents have intensified the political heat in Odisha, with the opposition mounting pressure on the BJP-led state government over women's safety.
