Bhubaneswar, July 17: Eight opposition parties, led by the Congress, observed a 12-hour statewide bandh across Odisha on Wednesday, demanding justice for a college student from Balasore who died after setting herself on fire.
The student, a second-year B.Ed candidate at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, had earlier complained of sexual harassment by a professor. However, no action was reportedly taken by the college authorities. The shocking incident of self-immolation triggered public outrage across the state.
Following her death, the police arrested the college principal and the Head of the Education Department for their alleged negligence and failure to act on the student's complaint.
Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said that several political parties, including Left-aligned groups, are supporting the bandh. The protest aims to press for strict punishment for those responsible and demand systemic changes to prevent such incidents in future.
The bandh is causing major disruptions, especially in Balasore and neighbouring areas, where public transport has been affected. Shops, businesses, and schools in several towns remained closed. Protesters were seen holding marches and sit-in demonstrations, urging the state government to take strong action and ensure justice for the deceased student.
Security has been tightened in sensitive areas, and the police are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any untoward incidents.
