Odisha Bandh Called On July 17 After College Student Dies Following Harassment Complaint
A coalition of eight opposition parties, led by the Congress, has called for a statewide bandh in Odisha on Wednesday, July 17, following the death of a college student who had set herself on fire after her complaints of sexual harassment were allegedly ignored. The incident has sparked massive political outrage and protests across the state.
The 20-year-old Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had sustained over 90 per cent burns after she immolated herself on the college campus on Saturday.
The student had allegedly been enduring prolonged sexual harassment by the Head of the Integrated B.Ed. Department, Sameer Kumar Sahoo. Her classmates and family allege that despite her repeated complaints to the college principal and other authorities, no action was taken, driving her to take the extreme step.
Following the incident and the subsequent public outcry, Balasore police have arrested both the accused Head of Department, Sameer Kumar Sahoo, and the college’s principal, Dillip Kumar Ghosh.
Announcing the bandh, the opposition has called for a complete shutdown of educational institutions and commercial establishments to demand justice for the victim and to protest against what they term as the state government’s failure to protect women. The coalition includes the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and NCP, among others.
The case has triggered a political firestorm, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling the student’s death an “organised murder by the system.” The ruling BJP government has come under heavy fire from opposition parties.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an ex-gratia of ₹20 lakh for the victim’s family and has assured that a proper investigation will be conducted and the guilty will face the strictest punishment under the law
