Mystery Surrounds College Student's Tragic Incident: CCTV Footage Raises Questions

A recent investigation into a tragic incident at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, has revealed CCTV footage of a woman purchasing petrol shortly before a student set herself on fire. The police are examining how she obtained the petrol, while the UGC and higher education department conduct separate inquiries. The incident has sparked protests from the opposition BJD's women's wing, demanding accountability from the State Commission for Women. As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 20, 2025, 10:49 IST

Investigation into Disturbing Incident at Balasore College

In Balasore, Odisha, police have identified a woman in CCTV footage from a local filling station, who appears to have purchased petrol in a bottle around the same time as a tragic incident involving a student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College. An officer confirmed this development on Saturday.

The Crime Branch is currently scrutinizing the footage from various filling stations in the vicinity but has not yet determined how the woman acquired the petrol.

The student, who had previously lodged a complaint of sexual harassment against a professor, tragically set herself ablaze on campus on July 12. She succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on the night of July 14.

In response to the incident, filling stations in the district have ceased the practice of dispensing petrol in bottles.

Additionally, a fact-finding team from the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been investigating the matter, engaging with various stakeholders over the past two days.

Rajkumar Mittal, the head of the UGC team, stated that a report will be compiled soon.

The UGC team has interrogated the college principal and members of the internal complaints committee (ICC), which had previously concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the student's claims of sexual harassment.

Moreover, a separate investigation is being conducted by a fact-finding team from the higher education department.

In a related development, the women's wing of the opposition BJD staged a protest outside the State Commission for Women’s office in Bhubaneswar, criticizing its effectiveness in safeguarding women's rights.

They issued a warning that if the government fails to address the vacancies within the women's commission promptly, they will resort to locking the office.