Girl dies after self-immolation over sexual harassment by professor, principal arrested

BHUVANESWAR: A student, who had set herself ablaze for not taking action against her professor for sexually abusing her even after a complaint was lodged, died last night. She died while undergoing treatment at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar. Her death was confirmed around midnight yesterday. The 20-year-old suffered 95 percent burns after setting herself on fire.

The incident happened at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College at Balasore in Odisha. A second-year B.Ed student set herself on fire in college by dousing petrol. Unable to bear the mental and physical torture, the student had filed a complaint with the principal on June 30 against Samir Kumar Sahu, the head of the department. The complaint alleged that he misbehaved with her and threatened to reduce her marks in the exam if she did not give in to his demands. However, the college authorities did not take any action against the teacher. The student then set herself on fire last Friday. Two classmates who tried to rescue her also suffered serious burns.

College principal Dilip Ghosh was arrested yesterday in connection with the incident. President Droupadi Murmu visited the victim in the burns ward in AIIMS day and met her family. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed that strict action will be taken against the accused. Sameer Kumar Sahu was suspended from the college the other day. The college principal was also suspended after he failed to take action on the complaint. The government has formed a special investigation team led by the director of higher education in the incident.