☰
×

Tragic Incident: 20-Year-Old Student Dies After Self-Immolation Over Alleged Harassment

A tragic incident in Bhubaneswar has led to the death of a 20-year-old student who set herself on fire after allegedly facing sexual harassment from a professor. The Chief Minister has promised justice, while the college principal has been arrested. This heartbreaking event raises serious questions about safety and accountability in educational institutions. The victim's family seeks justice as the community mourns this devastating loss. Read on for more details about the incident and the ongoing investigation.
By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2025, 09:29 IST

Heartbreaking Loss in Bhubaneswar


Bhubaneswar: A 20-year-old female student from FM (Autonomous) College in Balasore tragically passed away late Monday night due to severe burns, having set herself on fire following alleged sexual harassment by a professor. The student was receiving treatment at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to 95% of her injuries. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi shared this news via a post on X.

The Chief Minister expressed his condolences to the victim's family and assured them that strict measures would be taken against those responsible for the incident. He stated, "I have personally instructed the relevant officials to ensure justice is served. The government stands firmly with the victim's family during this difficult time." Earlier, the Odisha Police detained the college principal, and Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati requested a report from the state government. President Droupadi Murmu, who was present at AIIMS for a convocation ceremony, made an unplanned visit to the burn unit to check on the student's condition.


The Integrated BEd student had set herself ablaze on campus on Saturday, citing a lack of action regarding her complaint against the professor.






Initially, the student was treated at the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital before being transferred to AIIMS for specialized care. The Higher Education department established a three-member committee to investigate the matter. Following the committee's findings, the police arrested the college principal, Dillip Ghose, who had already been suspended. The student had approached the principal to inquire about the status of her harassment complaint against the Head of the English Department. She ignited herself shortly after leaving the principal's office, where she was reportedly urged to retract her allegations, as the internal committee found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Visuals of the Incident