Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, July 15: Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has held the BJP-led Odisha government accountable for the tragic death of a 20-year-old college student in Balasore, who succumbed to burn injuries after reportedly setting herself on fire following prolonged sexual harassment on campus.
In a sharply worded post on social media platform X, Gandhi accused the BJP of a consistent pattern across the states it governs—of shielding the accused, failing victims, and obstructing the path to justice.
"In Odisha, another daughter lost her fight for justice. She raised her voice against atrocities, but instead of support, she faced humiliation and harassment. This double injustice pushed her to end her life. Is this not a pattern under BJP rule—from Delhi to UP, from Manipur to Odisha—of standing with the accused, tormenting the victim, and blocking justice?" she wrote.
The student, enrolled at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, reportedly self-immolated on July 12 inside the campus premises. According to initial reports, she had formally complained of sustained sexual harassment by the Head of the Education Department but received no redressal, even after escalating the matter to the college principal.
She was initially admitted to the Balasore district hospital before being shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she died on July 14 from severe burn injuries, hospital authorities confirmed.
Following public outrage, police arrested the college’s Head of the Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu, and Principal Dilip Ghose in connection with the case.
The Odisha Congress has announced a statewide bandh on July 17, demanding justice and institutional accountability. State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das called for the resignation of Odisha’s Education Minister, the local MLA, and the MP.
“Our demand is clear—the Education Minister, the MLA, and the MP must resign, and their party must expel them. We urge all sections of society to support the Odisha bandh on the 17th,” Das stated.
