Balasore student self-immolation: BEd student succumbs to injuries; Odisha CM vows strict action

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced that the 20-year-old BEd student from FM Autonomous College in Balasore, who had attempted self-immolation earlier this month, passed away. She had been admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with severe burn injuries after setting herself on fire on July 12 in front of her college, during an ongoing protest, The Times of India reported.

CM Majhi took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the demise of the female student from FM Autonomous College. Despite the government's fulfillment of all responsibilities and the tireless efforts of the expert medical team, the victim's life could not be saved.”

The girl had suffered 90 per cent burns and was under intensive treatment. The Chief Minister offered his condolences and promised justice. “I pray for the eternal peace of her departed soul and beseech Lord Jagannath to grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss. I assure the family of the deceased student that all those guilty in this case will face the strictest punishment as per the law. For this, I have personally issued instructions to the authorities. The government stands firmly with the family,” he added.

Why did she attempt self-immolation?

The student had accused a faculty member, the head of the education department, of sexual harassment and threatening to manipulate her marks. Despite submitting multiple complaints, she felt ignored. A protest had been ongoing since July 1, demanding action. Her tragic act was caught on CCTV. A male student who tried to save her also suffered burn injuries.

Following public outrage, the assistant professor was arrested and suspended. The college principal was also suspended for failing to handle the matter properly and was later arrested. The Odisha Higher Education Department cited negligence as the reason for the principal’s suspension.

Deputy CM assures action

Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister, Pravati Parida, visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar and met the grieving family. “She died around 11.45 pm. The doctors had been trying hard to save her over the last three days. The government will take stringent action against those who are involved in this,” ANI quoted Parida as saying.

Earlier on Monday, President Droupadi Murmu also visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to meet the victim student. "I am very grateful to President Droupadi Murmu because she came here to see my daughter’s condition. She met us and asked about us and our family... She prayed for my daughter and gave us comfort," the victim’s father was quoted by ANI as saying.

As news of the student’s death spread, members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a protest outside AIIMS, demanding justice. They raised slogans and called for immediate action.

Earlier, the student was treated at Balasore hospital before being shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar due to her critical condition. On Sunday, Dr Dillip Kumar Parida, AIIMS Bhubaneswar's Medical Superintendent, had said that the patient remained in critical condition. “She is still very critical, and our team has also consulted doctors at AIIMS Delhi,” he told ANI. The victim was placed on a mechanical ventilator, and her father had earlier shared that she had suffered nearly 90 per cent burn injuries.