Bhubaneswar, July 13: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Sunday urged Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati to intervene in the case of self-immolation of a girl student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore.
Taking to his official ‘X’ handle, Naveen penned a strong worded post and urged the Governor in his capacity as Chancellor of state universities, to ensure that the student receives the justice she so desperately sought.
“In our higher education framework, the Governor serves as the Chancellor of key government-run universities, including FM University. I urge the Hon’ble Governor (@GovernorOdisha) to intervene and ensure that the student receives the justice she so desperately sought,” wrote Naveen.
Terming the incident both shocking and deeply distressing, Naveen prayed for her swift recovery.
“A young student resorting to self-immolation in one of #Odisha’s premier Universities is both shocking and deeply distressing. I fervently pray to Lord Jagannatha for her swift recovery from the grievous burn injuries,” he wrote.
Naveen said that the incident highlights how the student was denied justice despite repeatedly raising her grievances to officials, including the Chief Minister.
“She was allegedly subjected to relentless sexual harassment by a teacher who repeatedly demanded sexual favours. In a letter to the principal, she revealed that she had earlier attempted suicide but was saved,” he added.
The letter follows serious claims made by the student’s father and classmates. They said a senior teacher had harassed her for a long time, and that the college tried to pressure her into taking back her complaint..
Meanwhile, the BJD and Congress staged a protest against the BJP-led state government and demanded stringent action against the culprits.
In response to the incident, the Odisha government has suspended both Principal Dillip Ghosh and Education Department Head Sameer Kumar Sahoo.
Police have also arrested Sahoo, who is now in custody as part of a larger forensic and administrative investigation.
Initial reports suggest that the college's internal complaint committee was not fair because it didn't include student representatives and was made up only of faculty members, some of whom were reportedly close to the accused.
Meanwhile, the student who tried to set herself on fire during a protest outside the college has suffered more than 90 percent burn injuries and is still on a ventilator at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
A team of 12 doctors is treating her. Medical officials have decided not to airlift her because of the severity of her injuries, even though the state government had made the necessary arrangements.
Tags: prameyanews
