The principal of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, has been arrested after a second-year student attempted to set herself on fire on campus, alleging inaction on her complaint of sexual harassment by a faculty member. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has sparked widespread outrage across the state.
The 20-year-old woman, a student of the integrated B.Ed. program, had earlier filed a complaint accusing a senior professor of sexually harassing her. She had also staged a week-long protest on the college premises demanding action. However, following what she claimed was continued indifference by the authorities, she set herself ablaze on the college campus.
She is currently battling for her life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she was referred after initial treatment at the district hospital. Doctors have confirmed that her condition remains critical but stable for the third consecutive day.
“The patient is certainly critical, but stable. We are saying stable because her health condition has remained the same as it was during her admission to the hospital on Saturday evening. However, there is no improvement in the health condition. The next 72 hours are very crucial,” said Dr Dillip Parida, Superintendent of AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Her father, speaking with PTI, revealed the severity of her injuries:
“I could not recognise my daughter after seeing her at AIIMS. I could not stay with her for even a minute. Her entire body is bandaged. Doctors told me that dialysis had been done last night. The doctors are doing their best. As much as 95 per cent of her body is burnt.”
The college principal, Dilip Ghosh, who was allegedly approached by the victim hours before her act, has now been taken into custody. The move follows growing pressure from activists, political leaders, and civil society groups, who have accused the college administration of negligence and insensitivity.
The incident has ignited protests and anger in Balasore and beyond, with demands for a fair and speedy investigation and strict punishment for all those involved or complicit.