Balasore sexual harassment case: Girl killed herself after being forced to apologise to harasser, drop complaint - Kin

BHUBANESWAR/BALASORE: Minutes before a 20-year-old college student set herself ablaze on July 12, she was allegedly coerced by her college principal to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against a senior faculty member and apologise to the accused, according to a police complaint filed by her family.FIR says the student was summoned to the principal’s office between 12 and 12.30 pm. She left the room and by 12.40 pm had doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire. Her cousin, who filed the complaint, alleged that the principal warned her, “You won’t be able to show your face to anyone. You’ll be forced to end your life if you don’t withdraw the complaint.”Both the accused teacher and the principal were suspended and arrested.

The crime branch has taken over the probe amid growing questions about how the student procured petrol within 10 minutes of leaving the principal’s office.BJD activists clash with police over Balasore incidentBoth the accused teacher and the principal were suspended and arrested. Odisha police’s crime branch has taken over the investigation amid growing questions about how the student procured petrol within 10 minutes of leaving the principal’s office.

Investigators are probing whether anyone helped her.The student suffered burns on over 90% of her body and had inhaled flames, smoke, and petrol vapours that damaged her lungs, kidneys, and heart. She died late July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.Her death has become a flashpoint for public anger over institutional apathy and women’s safety in Odisha.BJD and Congress dismissed the crime branch probe as superficial and renewed calls for a judicial inquiry.

“Crime branch is part of same system that failed her,” said former law minister and senior BJD member Pratap Jena.Congress MP Rahul Gandhi spoke to the student’s father and pledged full support. The party plans to raise the matter in Parliament during upcoming monsoon session. All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba demanded CM Mohan Charan Majhi’s resignation and President’s rule in the state.Lamba also criticised PM Modi’s silence, alleging rising crimes against women in BJP-governed states like Odisha and UP.

“Police hesitate to act under political pressure,” she said.BJD supporters clashed with police outside Lok Seva Bhavan, demanding a judicial probe. BJD chief and ex-CM Naveen Patnaik alleged rubber bullets were fired at peaceful demonstrators — an allegation denied by police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh. Police arrested four Congress workers for allegedly hurling eggs at higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj’s residence during a protest.A bandh called by BJD brought Balasore to a standstill. Markets, schools, offices, and transport services shut down from 6 am to 2 pm. Protesters blocked roads, burned tyres, and halted trains. NH-16 was gridlocked near Uttereswar as trucks and private vehicles were left stranded for hours.(Inputs from Hemanta Pradhan & Kishan Sahu)