Odisha student’s death over harassment inaction sparks political uproar; opposition calls bandh on 17th

The student's body was cremated in the presence of her family and other villagers.

Thousands of people thronged the crematorium ground to attend her cremation. Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, district officials and others walked to the crematorium ground from the house of the student.

The 20-year-old second-year B. Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore had accused the Head of Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu of sexually harassing her.

She set herself on fire on Saturday on the college campus over alleged inaction against the professor and suffered 95 per cent burns.

The woman was first admitted to the Balasore district hospital and then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.

The student's death has sparked off a major political uproar with opposition BJD and Congress calling it an "institutional betrayal."

Even as chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced strong action against the culprits and a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the deceased, Congress has given Odisha bandh call on July 17 protesting the failure of the justice redressal system in the state.

State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said the bandh is being supported by eight parties, including the Left.

He claimed the incident, which happened at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, showed that the state government has failed to protect women.

"She brought petrol, and everyone watched silently. No one acted," he said, attacking the ruling BJP.