Upset over sexual advances by Asst Prof, Odisha college student attempts self-immolation in full public view

Bhubaneswar, July 12 (UNI) Deeply upset over sexual harassment by senior faculty, a girl student pursuing an integrated Bachelor of Education course at the State-run Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore allegedly attempted self-immolation inside the college campus.

The victim attempted to end her life by pouring petrol and setting herself on fire. People nearby attempted to save her by dousing the fire. However, she sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and was shifted to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar in critical condition.

The sudden act of self-immolation by the victim left everybody shell-shocked.

What has fuelled further controversy over the unsavoury incident is the fact that the victim student had drawn the attention of college authorities by lodging a complaint of sexual harassment and administrative inaction over the sensitive matter by the authorities.

While the alleged sexual escapade by a college teacher has sparked state-wide outrage, the State’s Higher Education department has placed the accused college teacher under suspension with immediate effect.
“Samira Kumar Sahu, Asst. Professor (Stage-l) in Educational Studies, Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, is hereby placed under suspension under sub-rule (2) of rule 12 of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1962, with immediate effect,” an order issued by the department stated today.

Meanwhile, the local police have detained the accused Sahu and are interrogating him to ascertain the circumstances that forced the student to take the extreme step.

The victim is understood to have apprised the college authorities of the assistant professor’s sexual harassment inflicted upon her. However, the authorities sat over the matter and left the accused roam scot-free, said sources.

Principal of Fakir Mohan College, Dilip Ghosh, confirmed that the student had met him earlier in the day, expressing severe mental distress and insisting that faculty be summoned.

“After counselling, I called both of them to my office. While the assistant professor denied the allegations, the student stuck to the charges. Just moments after our discussion, we heard screams. She had set herself on fire,” Ghosh said.

In her written complaint to college authorities, the student had earlier alleged that the teacher had made sexually suggestive remarks and threatened to jeopardise her academic career as she did not give in to his amorous advances.

The victim had also brought the matter to the notice of the local police. But her efforts to get justice ended in futility, according to sources.