BHUBANESWAR: A 20-year-old student is in critical condition after setting herself on fire, allegedly over the college administration’s failure to act on her sexual harassment complaint against a senior professor. The incident took place at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha. The student, a second-year undergraduate, sustained 95% burns and is undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
According to her family, the student had lodged a complaint with the college principal on June 30, accusing the head of the department, Sameer Kumar Sahu, of inappropriate behaviour and threatening to reduce her exam marks if she did not comply with his demands. The family alleges that the authorities not only ignored the complaint but also pressured the young woman to withdraw it.
Her brother stated that the family will go to any extent to get justice for her. The family has demanded an independent and fair investigation and that justice be ensured for the young woman.
"The woman has suffered 95% burns, which have affected her kidneys and lungs. Her condition remains critical," said a doctor.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the student doused herself in petrol and set herself ablaze on the college campus. Two other students who attempted to save her also suffered serious burn injuries.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the hospital recently and spoke with the doctors. Sameer Kumar Sahu was suspended from the college the previous day. The principal was also suspended for not taking action on the complaint. The government has formed a special investigation team headed by the Director of Higher Education to look into the incident.