Balasore Student’s Father Alleges Pressure by College to Drop Sexual Harassment Case

Balasore:  A 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore reportedly attempted self-immolation after allegedly being denied justice in a sexual harassment case. The woman, a second-year Integrated B.Ed student, sustained severe burn injuries, with doctors stating that nearly 90% of her body was affected.

According to her father, the student was under immense mental distress after being pressured by college authorities to withdraw her complaint against a professor who also served as the head of her department.

Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar, the father accused the college principal, Dillip Ghose, of failing to protect his daughter and worsening her condition. “My daughter's friends told me she set herself on fire minutes after meeting the principal. She had gone to his chamber to find out about the Internal Complaint Committee’s (ICC) investigation report,” he said.

He further claimed that the principal informed his daughter that the ICC found no evidence to support her allegations against Professor Samira Kumar Sahu, head of the Education Department. This news, he believes, pushed her deeper into distress, ultimately leading to her drastic act.

“The principal not only dismissed her concerns but also told her that the college might take action against her for making false accusations,” the father alleged. “She was already broken. And then they threatened her with punishment.”

He also accused Professor Sahu of threatening his daughter, claiming the HOD warned her that her academic performance and records would be sabotaged unless she complied with his inappropriate demands.

The father said he had personally approached Principal Ghose after his daughter filed the complaint. “He assured me he would handle the matter. But I still don’t understand how a principal could allow things to spiral to the point where a 20-year-old student felt suicide was her only option.”

The student is currently in critical condition and has been referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. Police have detained the accused teacher and launched an investigation. The Higher Education Department of Odisha has since suspended both the principal and the professor with immediate effect.

ALSO READ: Missing Delhi University Student Sneha Debnath's Body Discovered Under Geeta Colony Flyover After 6-Day Search