Naveen Patnaik Demands Action After FMU Student’s Self-Immolation
Bhubaneswar, July 13- (OT Webdesk): A student from Fakir Mohan University is undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after allegedly setting herself ablaze in front of the principal’s office, following months of ignored sexual harassment complaints.
The incident has shaken Odisha’s academic fraternity and triggered swift political and administrative responses.
The student had repeatedly accused a senior faculty member of sustained harassment but reportedly received no action from university officials or state bodies. Her drastic act prompted Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik to demand intervention from Odisha’s Governor, the Chancellor of all state-run universities.
A young student resorting to self-immolation in one of #Odisha’s premier Universities is both shocking and deeply distressing. I fervently pray to Lord Jagannatha for her swift recovery from the grievous burn injuries.
She was allegedly subjected to relentless sexual harassment…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 13, 2025
Calling it a “tragic example of institutional failure,” Patnaik emphasised the need for justice and safety reforms across campuses. In response, the state government suspended the university principal, arrested the accused professor, and established an inquiry committee.
The case underscores pressing concerns over campus safety and the need for transparent grievance redressal mechanisms.
