Bhubaneswar: A day after a girl student from FM (Autonomous) College in Balasore attempted self-immolation on campus, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Sunday sought the intervention of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati to ensure justice for her.
“A young student resorting to self-immolation in one of Odisha’s premier Universities is both shocking and deeply distressing. In our higher education framework, the Governor serves as the Chancellor of key government-run universities, including FM University. I urge the Hon’ble Governor to intervene and ensure that the student receives the justice she so desperately sought. Once again, I pray to Lord Jagannatha for the speedy recovery of the Fakir Mohan University student,” he posted on X.
Naveen also explained in details the alleged relentless sexual harassment the girl had to endure. “In a letter to the principal, she revealed that she had earlier attempted suicide but was saved. For months, she lived in fear and anguish. On July 1, in a desperate plea for help, she posted her grievance on social media, tagging several top officials. But with no action forthcoming, she tragically resorted to setting herself on fire, right outside the principal’s chamber, in a final attempt to end her suffering. This tragic incident lays bare the stark reality of how she was denied justice, despite repeatedly voicing her grievances from the College Principal to the Higher Education Minister and right up to Union Minister and the Chief Minister,” he wrote.
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Earlier, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that the last few days have been a living hell for women in Odisha. “Two gruesome gangrapes took place in Gopalpur 10 days ago… A student was targeted by a teacher in FM college and Principal took it lightly. Her complaint was also not acted upon… She committed suicide today… Odisha is in a state of chaos today, 15 rapes happening everyday… If they failed to protect the woman belonging to their own organisation, how can they protect the women of the entire state? We demand that the principal should be dismissed for the attitude he has shown, the 5 teachers should be issued show-cause notice and suspended till they reply. A team of BJD leaders have visited the father of the victim…,” he told ANI.
The victim, 20-year-old Soumyashree Bisi, was reportedly a member of ABVP, the student wing of BJP.
BJP FAILED ITS OWN MEMBER: BJD
BJD leader Ipsita Sahoo clarified that the party, in Saturday’s press meet, had blamed the BJP government, which is in power in the state, and not the ABVP for the incident. “The presser sought justice for a student of the state irrespective of which party wing she belonged to. The Hindu girl of an Odia household, who followed BJP ideology, was failed by her own people. Some office bearers of ABVP are now creating ruckus over the incident and unnecessarily dragging Biju Chhatra Dal into it. Will that help her get justice? Instead pursue the case so that it is fast-tracked and ask questions to your own leaders,” she said in a video message, mentioning about Soumyashree’s post on X in which she had tagged the CM, Higher Education minister, Balasore MP, SP and Collector.
Earlier, state secretary of ABVP Odisha, Diptimayee Pratihari, had accused the student wing of the BJD of supporting the accused teacher. “We had stood with Soumyashree, stage sit-in and also locked the college gate over the incident. After over five hours of discussions, the principal sought time and assured strict action against those responsible. The student wing of BJD had, however, supported the accused teacher. Now, the party is shedding crocodile tears over the incident,” she told the media on Saturday.
Ipsita called for unity among the students.
The BJD leader further alleged that the Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who failed to act on her complaint, is now shedding crocodile tears. “I am proud of the girl who relentlessly fought against the harassment,” she said.
She also questioned why the college principal failed to act on her complaint despite Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi’s phone call.
REPORT BIASED: PRATAP SARANGI
Sarangi had earlier told the media that he had personally called the principal and the police after the matter was brought to his notice. “The principal said the ICC was probing the matter and assured that the enquiry would be completed in five days,” he told mediapersons.
The MP further alleged gross negligence and callousness on the part of the college authorities in handling a harassment complaint. “Upon learning of the self-immolation, I repeatedly tried contacting the principal, but he didn’t answer. I hurried to the college to examine the ICC report and was appalled by clear discrepancies between the report and statements of the complainant, her father, and other students. The report was blatantly biased,” he said, calling it a ‘Samira Chalisa’ that seemed to praise the accused professor instead of holding him accountable.
He pointed out a ridiculous claim in the report that the professor taught yoga to students who came late to class, questioning its logic.
Sarangi also expressed serious doubts about the ICC’s integrity, noting that the proceeding register contained only signatures, with no details of discussions or conclusions, despite the principal’s claim of five meetings. He alleged that every effort was made to shield the assistant professor.