Days before she set herself on fire, Odisha student wrote to college: Professor harassing for denying sexual favours

The accused, an assistant professor, has been arrested and suspended, and the state government has also suspended the college principal.

As the Opposition BJD and Congress raised the heat on the ruling BJP, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where the student is admitted, and promised all possible help.

After writing to the institute authorities, the student had also approached the police, which in turn had asked the institute for a response.

Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said Saturday that police followed up the matter with the institute which said it would submit the report within five days. When it didn’t come in five days, police asked the institute again and were told it would be submitted as soon as possible, Prasad said.

On Saturday, the student, while staging a dharna on the campus, set herself on fire, moments after meeting the principal in his chamber. According to CCTV footage, a group of students tried to save her. She sustained severe burn injuries.

With her condition extremely critical, an eight-member expert committee has been formed by AIIMS Bhubaneswar to monitor the treatment. AIIMS Director Ashutosh Biswas said she has sustained 90-95 per cent burn injuries and is on ventilator support.

On Sunday, the student’s father alleged she was being pressured by the college authorities to withdraw her complaint. He said he had met the accused teacher in January, after the latter stopped her from attending classes, and requested him not to harass her.

“It’s heart-wrenching to see her like this. She was good at studies and cultural activities,” he said.

As the Opposition BJD and Congress hit the streets, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Sunday sought the Governor’s intervention.

Chief Minister Majhi, who visited the hospital, told officials she can be airlifted to Delhi for treatment if needed. Doctors, however, say she is not in a condition to be airlifted.

The National Commission for Women has also taken cognizance of the matter and directed the Odisha DGP to ensure a “fair and time-bound investigation”.