Bhubaneswar, July 13: Odisha government on Saturday launched a high-level investigation into the self-immolation attempt of a girl student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore.
The student, who attempted suicide by setting herself on fire allegedly due to continuous harassment from the Head of Department (HOD) for a period of time, is currently receiving critical treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
The incident, which has gained a lot of public attention, is being treated with the highest priority, assured Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
He also mentioned that an unbiased three-member inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the events leading to the incident and the involvement of college authorities and faculty members.
"The Odisha government is taking this incident very seriously. We will ensure the strictest punishment for anyone found responsible. The punishment will be so severe that no one will even think of committing such an act in the future," Minister Suraj said during a press interaction.
Sources say the government-appointed committee includes Higher Education Director Kaliprasanna Mahapatra (IAS), Joint Secretary of the Higher Education Department Mousumi Nayak, and Professor Jhumki Rath from BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar.
The committee will focus on five main areas. First, it will look into the sequence of events and the conditions that may have led the student to attempt self-immolation. Next, it will investigate the nature of the alleged harassment, and how much the College’s Education HOD, Sameer Kumar Sahoo, was involved.
The committee will also examine the response and accountability of the college principal, administration, and internal complaint committee.
Afterward, the committee will investigate if any mistakes or negligence, either in procedures or by individuals, played a role in the incident. Finally, it will check if any new facts or details come up during the investigation.
The committee has been given full authority to speak to anyone or gather any information it needs and will submit its findings to the Higher Education Department, according to sources.
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.
