Odisha Student Attempted Self-Immolation As Her Complaint Was 'Not Validated': Cops

Last Updated:July 21, 2025, 08:51 IST

The student reportedly faced sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) and took the extreme step after her formal complaint went unanswered.

Odisha college student set herself on fire over sexual harassment by teacher | Image: X

The Odisha Police Crime Branch, probing the self-immolation death case of the Balasore college student, said that the 20-year-old woman had set herself on fire as her complaint of sexual harassment was “not validated" by an internal enquiry committee of the institute.

According to Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra, sleuths noticed inconsistencies or contradictions in what the witnesses said about the case.

“The college authorities had taken action on her complaint, and an internal inquiry was conducted. But the inquiry team did not validate her complaint. Her extreme step was a reaction to the non-validation of her plaint," the director general of the crime branch told reporters on Sunday.

On July 12, the 20-year-old female student immolated herself and died on the night of July 14. She had reportedly faced sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) and took the extreme step after her formal complaint and repeated pleas for help to the college principal went unanswered.

The case is being investigated by the branch’s Crime Against Women & Children Wing (CAW&CW), which took over the case from Balasore district police and began a probe on July 17.

“We have found inconsistencies between statements of witnesses to the internal complaints committee and police, and their posts on social media. They have given different views and opinions before and after the incident. A thorough analysis of every statement is necessary, and it will take time. A proper analysis is needed against digital evidence to reach a conclusion," the DG said.

Mishra further added that the crime branch will ensure that no innocent person is held responsible for the death of the college student.

Earlier, the local police had arrested two persons, Sahoo and the principal of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College Dillip Ghose.

(With inputs from PTI)

Location :

Odisha (Orissa), India, India

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