Odisha Student Struggles With Mental Health After Self-immolation Attempt
An undergraduate student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, Odisha, has attempted self-immolation over alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member. The student is battling for her life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar with over 90% burn injuries.
Now, another student had alerted college authorities regarding her deteriorating mental health and hinted at the possibility of taking an extreme step.
Reportedly, the student made a formal complaint on July 1 against Samir Kumar Sahu, head of the Education Department at her college, for mentally tormenting her in retaliation for declining sexual advances. She claimed that the professor threatened to destroy her academic progress by deliberately failing her to repeat the academic year.
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The accused has since been arrested and sent to judicial custody. The state government has also acted against the college principal, Dilip Ghosh, suspending him for alleged negligence in handling the complaint.
Following the political outrage, the Odisha Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Manjhi, visited the student at AIIMS and assured to take all possible measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
As per the reports, the student initially raised an issue with the college’s Internal Complaints Committee on June 30 and later filed a police complaint on July 1.
Following this police requested the college to submit a report, and the committee said to submit it in five days. However, the report was not submitted timely manner. Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said, “We are now verifying the proceedings of the committee and their inquiry status”.
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College authorities claimed to submit the ICC report on July 9, but did not offer any recommendations on the sexual harassment charges.
Notably, the delay and inaction became a reason for growing public anger.
