Bhubaneswar: Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling accompanied by Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and MLA Babu Singh visited AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Sunday to enquire about the condition of the second-year girl student of integrated BEd at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore battling for life after self-immolation.
The student sustained over 90 per cent burn injuries and is currently undergoing critical care at the hospital.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi is also scheduled to visit AIIMS. He will hold discussions with the medical team and meet the girl’s family.
Speaking to the media, AIIMS Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas said the victim is on advanced life support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She has sustained deep burns and her vital organs, including kidneys, have been affected. “Her condition is critical. Doctors of multiple departments are attending to her. Her kidneys have been affected. After another 24-48 hours, we may have a better assessment of her health condition,” he said.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar has formed a high-level expert committee to oversee her treatment. The committee includes specialists from Anesthesias, Pulmonary Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Nephrology and Nursing. Dr Sanjay Giri will serve as Member Secretary and provide two daily medical updates, the hospital said in an office order.
THE INCIDENT & ALLEGATIONS
The student, Soumyashree Bisi (20) of Bhograi, took the extreme step in front of the college principal’s chamber on Saturday afternoon in protest against months-long sexual harassment by Head of the Education Department Samir Sahu, who was allegedly demanding favours from her over poor attendance, and the institute’s alleged inaction in the matter.
Bisi had met Principal Dillip Ghosh, who has now been suspended, on June 30 and sought action against Sahu. She also wrote to the college’s internal complaints committee on July 1, alleging that the HoD had been mentally and sexually harassing her for the last few months as well as demanding favours by threatening to fail her in the examinations. She even claimed that she had earlier attempted suicide due to the harassment.
When the matter was not resolved even after five days as assured by the authorities, she met the college principal again on the fateful day with her brother Soumya Ranjan and staged a demonstration outside the main entrance of the college when she failed to get any satisfactory response. At around 12.30 pm, she poured petrol on her body and immolated herself. Jyotiprakash Biswal, a Plus III first-year student, who was present at the spot, sustained injuries while trying to save her.
She had also posted her allegation on X, tagging the CM, Higher Education minister, Balasore MP, SP and Collector.
@DHE_Odisha @suryabanshibjp @dpradhanbjp @CMO_Odisha @MohanMOdisha @DBalasore @manaskumardutta @EduMinOfIndia @NCWIndia pic.twitter.com/FqgdGhEhTG
— Soumyashree Bisi (@BisiSoumya24793) July 1, 2025
GOVT’S ACTION
The Higher Education department suspended both Sahu and Ghosh within a few hours of the incident. Sahu was later arrested by Sahadevkhunta Police. A three-member committee, comprising Higher Education Director Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, Higher Education Department Joint Secretary Mousumi Nayak and Professor Jhumki Rath of BJP (Autonomous) College, has been formed to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
The committee has been directed to ascertain the circumstances leading to the self-immolation attempt, look into the harassment allegation against Sahu and examine the response of the college administration, including the principal and internal complaint committee, to the complaints filed by the victim. The probe panel has been asked to identify the lapses on part of any individual or authority.
The government will also bear the treatment expenses of the victim till her recovery and also the accommodation cost of her family members. They have been put up at a Dharmasala nearer to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
PRINCIPAL SEEKS PROTECT
Ghosh has submitted a formal request to the Balasore Collector seeking protection, expressing concerns for his and his family’s safety due to increasing public outrage and student protests. “This morning, I wrote to the Collector seeking security arrangements for our safety,” he told the media.
He also refuted the allegation that the student was pressured to withdraw her complaint.
Gsh said that he counselled her for about 20 to 25 minutes when she had come to meet him at around 11 am. “I advised her to be patient and assured that the matter would be resolved,” he said.
He, however, said the ICC had found no concrete evidence to support allegations of sexual harassment or demand for favours. He also maintained that all procedures were followed as per existing institutional norms. “Our internal committee was in the process of fact-finding and had followed all due steps. The girl took a step suddenly. I would fully cooperate with the authorities for a detailed investigation as it is my duty,” he added.
