A shadow of shock and anger rests upon Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore after a 22-year-old B.Ed. student tried to burn herself alive on the college campus, apparently pushed to the brink by months of harassment by her department head and an overarching pattern of administrative inaction. The incident, which has placed the student in critical condition with more than 90% burns, has precipitated statewide protests and a top-level government investigation, laying bare deep-seated problems in the management of sexual harassment cases in Indian higher education.
The victim's ordeal
The second-year B.Ed. student, under stress for weeks, as described by friends and peers, accused Head of the Integrated B.Ed. Department and Assistant Professor (Stage-I) in Educational Studies Sameer Kumar Sahu of constant sexual harassment and intimidation. Classmates accuse Sahu of making unwanted continuous demands and threatening to inflict academic penalties upon her if she did not obey.
Even after the seriousness of her claims, the student's cries for assistance allegedly fell on deaf ears. She formally complained to the college principal, Dilip Kumar Ghose, as well as to the police in her area. An Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) was established, but little visible effort was made, according to students and activists. The student protested on campus for a week, demanding that something be done, but nothing happened.
The day of the incident
On July 12, after yet another fruitless meeting with Principal Ghose, the student was at breaking point. Eyewitnesses say she poured petrol over herself and ignited herself near the principal's office. Another student who came to her rescue suffered severe burns.
Both were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital before they were shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for further treatment. A special 12-doctor team was formed to treat the severely injured woman, who is still on life support.
Administrative repercussions and government response
The incident triggered quick, if late, action by the Odisha state government. Principal Ghose was suspended for being derelict in his responsibility to safeguard the student and maintain a secure campus environment. The arrested teacher, Sameer Kumar Sahu, was remanded to judicial custody after preliminary questioning by police. The Higher Education Minister of the state, Suryabanshi Suraj, made a visit to the hospital and reassured people that the government would foot all medical bills and spare no effort in the investigation.
A high-ranking inquiry committee has been constituted, made up of senior women officers and an external principal, to investigate the incident and the handling of the complaint by the college. Minister Suraj said that the government is keen to take strong action in this case. Action would be taken based on the report of the committee.
Political and social reactions
The incident has set the entire state of Odisha ablaze with outrage. Student organizations and women's rights groups organized protests, calling for justice for the victim and institutional changes in the way sexual harassment allegations are dealt with on campus. Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi termed the incident "barbaric," admitting that he had previously urged the principal to put the accused teacher on compulsory leave—advice that was disregarded.
Opposition parties demanded the resignation of the Higher Education Minister on the grounds of a larger pattern of administrative lapses and inaction at Odisha's educational institutions.
The human cost
At the time of writing this, the student is still in critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Her fellow student, who attempted to rescue her, is also recuperating from burn injuries. The trauma has rung through the college community such that many students fear and distrust the institution to protect them.
Systemic questions asked
This tragedy has shone a harsh light on the shortcomings of internal grievance mechanisms, the refusal of authorities to take up sexual harassment complaints, and the underlying problem of women's security in Indian higher education. The case has renewed controversy over whether there should be independent, open redressal mechanisms and obligatory accountability for college administrators.
What happens next
The government assured stern action and systemic change, but to many, the promises are belated. The report of the inquiry committee is pending, and the principal, along with the indicted teacher, is still suspended or under detention awaiting further probe. The matter is being watched intently across the country as a test of whether institutional culture can shift to value student safety and justice.