Opposition calls Odisha bandh on July 17 over Balasore student’s death

BJD and Congress supporters during a protest in Odisha.

Eight opposition parties in Odisha, including Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), on Tuesday called for ‘Odisha bandh’ on July 17 to protest the death of the 20-year-old student in Balasore, according to a The New Indian Express report.

The BEd student had set herself ablaze on her college premises after her sexual harassment complaint against a faculty member remained unresolved for months. She sustained 90 per cent burns and was receiving treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to burn injuries at 11.46 pm on Monday.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Sulata Deo on Tuesday accused the BJP-led state government in Odisha of being ‘anti-Dalit and anti-tribal’, following the death of a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who had attempted self-immolation, The Times of India reported.

Deo also questioned the timing of the postmortem, alleging that it was deliberately conducted at night to avoid public scrutiny.

"This government is against Dalits and tribals. Why was the postmortem done at night? The body was brought at night so that no one would come to know,” TOI quoted Deo as saying.

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar | During BJD protest early morning today following the death of Balasore student, BJD leader Sulata Deo says, " This government is against Dalits and tribals...Why was the postmortem done at night? The body was brought at night so that no one would come to… pic.twitter.com/VHZldKg5BQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025

BJD leader Snehangini Chhuria stated that the Centre’s slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ has tragically turned into ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Jalao’ in Odisha.

"In the Balasore incident, no one listened to the victim. That's why she decided to self-immolate. Now, the slogan of 'beti bachao beti padhao' has turned to 'beti padhao beti jalao' in Odisha." TOI quoted Chhuria as saying.

#WATCH | Balasore student self-immolation case | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | BJD leader Snehangini Chhuria says, "A delegation of BJD met with the President Droupadi Murmu...We demanded that the President intervene as the situation of women is constantly degrading in the state. In the… pic.twitter.com/x4bh7SDikf — ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025

Chhuria stated that no one listened to the victim, which is why she chose to set herself on fire, and urged President Droupadi Murmu to intervene in the deteriorating safety of women in the state.

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar confirmed the death of the student on Monday.

In an official statement, the Department of Burn Centre at AIIMS Bhubaneswar stated that the student was brought to the casualty ward on July 12, after being referred from the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital.

"She was admitted to the Burns Centre ICU. The patient was resuscitated with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, intubated, and put on mechanical ventilation. Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management, including renal replacement therapy at the Burns ICU, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 pm on July 14," the statement said.

The BJD workers staged a protest as the mortal remains of the deceased student were being taken to the postmortem centre at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

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 New Indian Express reported.

Odisha CM on student’s death

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured the victim’s family that those responsible would face the strictest punishment under the law. Majhi also announced ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the student.