Bhubaneswar: Workers of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) gheraoed RDC offices in Cuttack, Berhampur, and Sambalpur in Odisha demanding a judicial probe into the suicide of a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College in Balasore.
Soumyashree Bisi, who had set herself ablaze on the college campus on July 12 over alleged harassment, sustained over 90 per cent burns and breathed her last two dals later while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Led by senior leaders, the BJD workers staged demonstrations near the offices of the three Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) and raised slogans in support of their demands.
Senior party leaders also addressed the workers during the agitation as the demonstrators carrying placards and banners came down heavily on the BJP government in the state over the issue.
Senior leader Sanjay Das Burma told reporters during the protest at Berhampur that the people have extended overwhelming support to the party voluntarily as the workers gheraoed the RDC office during the day.
Lamenting that women are not safe in the state, he said crimes against women have increased and the BJD demands a judicial probe into the FM College student death incident, or else the party will intensify the agitation in the coming days and gherao the Assembly.
Earlier on July 16, the BJD workers had tried to gherao the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar by breaking the barricades erected on the Lower PMG road. An intense scuffle ensued between the cops and the BJD workers during the incident.
