Student sets herself on fire in campus as sexual harassment complaint against professor ignored

A second-year student of an Integrated B.Ed programme in Balasore, Odisha, allegedly attempted self-immolation on the campus on Saturday after her sexual harassment complaint against a senior faculty member was reportedly not acted upon. Police said she sustained 90% burn injuries. Another male student who tried to save her also suffered injuries. Both were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Balasore, and the woman was later referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.

The incident occurred after the student met the institution's principal earlier in the day. She had filed a written sexual harassment complaint on June 30 against a professor who also heads a department. The principal stated, “The student had come to me and wanted action against the teacher. I counselled her as she looked tense. She had lodged a complaint on June 30 and an internal complaint committee (ICC) inquiry was going on.”

According to police, the student had been staging a protest on campus for the past week demanding action. Her classmates said she was under mental stress and claimed that neither the institution nor the police responded despite repeated appeals.

Police detained the accused teacher and took him to Sahadevkhunta Police Station for questioning. Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad, along with a scientific team, visited the site. Officials confirmed that an investigation is underway as per legal procedures.

Balasore MLA Manas Dutta, who visited the hospital, said, “The health condition of the woman student is critical. Our first priority is to save her life.” The incident has triggered tension in the campus, and further inquiry is ongoing.