Rajgangpur Teen Dies After Self-Immolation Amid Harassment Allegations
Rourkela – An 18-year-old college student, Shruti Toppo from Rajgangpur, succumbed to severe burn injuries late Sunday night after battling for three days at Ispat General Hospital (IGH), Rourkela. Shruti had sustained over 90% burns on December 5 after allegedly setting herself ablaze with kerosene.
Police have arrested Nilesh Sahu, 25, of Budakata village, accused of stalking and harassing Shruti for over two years. Authorities confirmed that a heated exchange between the two occurred shortly before the incident.
Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Raghunathpalli MLA Durgacharan Tanti, and IGH Director Dr. Jayanta Kumar Acharya visited the hospital during her treatment.
Specialists from AIIMS Bhubaneswar were consulted, and plans were made to airlift Shruti to AIIMS Delhi or Bhubaneswar once her condition stabilised. Despite the efforts of two medical teams, her injuries proved fatal.
Shruti’s mother recalled waking up to her screams in the early hours of December 5, finding her engulfed in flames.
Sundargarh SP Amritpal Kaur confirmed that Shruti endured prolonged harassment, which drove her to the drastic step.
The tragedy has sparked outrage across Odisha, with political leaders condemning the incident and calling for stronger law and order measures to protect women from harassment and violence.