Balasore: Normal life was disrupted in Odisha’s Balasore district on Wednesday due to a shutdown observed by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) protesting the suicide of a female student of Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College over alleged harassment.
While shops and business establishment remained closed, vehicular traffic came to a halt as the eight-hour bandh called by the opposition party began at 6 am. The bandh has been called protesting the alleged harassment of the B.Ed student Soumyashree Bisi, who died after attempting self-immolation.
BJD workers and activists staged road blockade at various places in the district by burning tyres and putting up barricades, disrupting vehicular movement.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in view of the bandh. However, emergency services were excluded from the ambit of the bandh.
Claiming that the bandh has drawn overwhelming support from the people, BJD leaders said the victim of harassment must get justice.
Besides demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj over the incident, the opposition party is seeking a judicial probe into the tragic incident.
Stating that Soumyashree had gone from door to door for justice for six months, they alleged that the student was forced to take the extreme step out of despair as no one listened to her agonies.
The regional party demanded strong action against everyone responsible, starting from the Chief Minister to the Balasore MLA and the Superintendent of Police.
Notably, Soumyashree had set herself ablaze on the college campus on July 12, alleging sexual harassment by the Head of the Department (HoD), Samira Kumar Sahu. S
She suffered over 90 per cent burn injuries and was first rushed to Balasore Medical College before being shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Despite intensive medical efforts, including mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy, she was declared dead at 11:46 PM on July 14.
Before her extreme step, Soumyashree had staged a sit-in protest near the college, demanding action against Sahu. She was upset over the administration’s alleged inaction despite her formal complaint.
Sahu has been arrested by Sahadevkhunta Police following an FIR lodged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 108 (abetment to suicide) and Section 75(1)(iii) (sexual harassment). College principal Dilip Ghose has also been arrested in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, BJD has also announced its plan to gherao Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. In view of the protest, the Home Department has instructed all Lok Seva Bhawan staff to reach office by 9 am. Security has also been tightened at government buildings, including Lok Seva Bhawan, Kharavela Bhawan, Rajiv Bhawan, and Krushi Bhawan in view of the BJD plan.
