Orissa HC PIL Demands SIT Probe in FM College Student’s Tragic Death

Balasore, (OT webdesk) — The Orissa High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the tragic death of a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College.

The student, who succumbed to burn injuries after a self-immolation attempt on July 12, had reportedly faced prolonged harassment and institutional neglect.

Senior advocate Shib Shankar Mohanty filed the PIL, citing serious lapses in the college’s internal grievance redressal mechanism and urging judicial oversight to ensure transparency.

The Odisha Crime Branch, currently investigating the case, has questioned faculty members and is exploring multiple angles, including harassment by HOD Sameer Sahoo and administrative apathy.

The student had submitted a written complaint prior to the incident, which was allegedly dismissed by the college’s internal committee.

Her death on July 15 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar has sparked statewide protests, with Congress and BJD launching agitation campaigns. A statewide bandh was observed on July 17, demanding justice and accountability.