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Baliyatra 2025 Nuapada Bypoll
ଓଡ଼ିଆ | ENGLISH

FM College student's self-immolation bid: NCW seeks action report

Published By : Chinmaya Dehury | July 13, 2025 3:25 PM
FM College student's self-immolation bid: NCW seeks action report

Bhubaneswar, July 13: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought an action taken report within three days from authorities regarding the attempted self-immolation of Soumyashree Bisi, a student at Balasore's Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College.

The 20-year-old, a second-year integrated BEd student, set herself on fire outside the college gate on Saturday. She is currently in critical condition with 90% burns and has been transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.

According to the NCW, Soumyashree's desperate act followed alleged sexual harassment and academic threats from Samir Sahu, the Head of the BEd Department.

The commission stated that Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar "strongly condemned the incident" and has instructed the Odisha DGP to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation, take strict action against the accused, and provide free medical and psychological support to the victim.

"The National Commission for Women has taken cognisance of a deeply disturbing report from Odisha, where a 20-year-old student of a government college in Balasore allegedly set herself ablaze after facing sexual harassment and academic threats by the Head of Department. The student, currently in critical condition with 90% burns, has been shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Chairperson Ms. Vijaya Rahatkar has strongly condemned the incident and directed the DGP Odisha to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation, take strict action against the accused, and extend all necessary medical and psychological support to the victim free of cost. An Action Taken Report must be submitted to the Commission within 3 days," the commission said in a statement.

Prior to the incident, Soumyashree had staged a protest, demanding action against Sahu. She was reportedly distressed because college authorities had not acted on her formal complaint against him.

In response to the incident, the Odisha Higher Education Department has suspended both Principal Dillip Kumar Ghosh and HOD Samir Sahu. Additionally, Sahadevkhunta Police have arrested Sahu.

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