Tragic Incident at Fakir Mohan College
On Saturday, July 12, 2025, a 20‑year‑old second-year B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, Odisha, allegedly self-immolated on campus to protest inaction over sexual harassment complaints against the Head of Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu 1. She sustained severe burns—estimated at 95% of her body—and was rushed to Balasore District Hospital before being transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Critical Medical Response and Timeline
The student fought for her life for nearly 60 hours. Doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar declared her clinically dead late Monday night on July 14, 2025, and she succumbed around 11:46 pm 2. Her body was airlifted back to her native village by Tuesday morning for cremation.
Emotional Cremation & Community Uproar
Tens of thousands attended her cremation under tight security. Her cousin conducted the rites amid chants of “long live the brave daughter.” Village elders, including her grieving father and brother, questioned institutional negligence. District officials, local MLAs including Gautambuddha Das and Manas Dutta, and MP Pratap Sarangi also participated 3. Her mother, unable to speak, and a heartbroken father demanded justice, lamenting that if authorities had acted earlier, his daughter might be alive.
Catalyst for Protests & Political Uproar
Following her death, protests erupted outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar as public anger swelled 4. Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced strong legal action and ₹20 lakh in compensation to her family 5. Meanwhile, opposition parties—including Congress and BJD—called a statewide bandh on July 17. Lok Sabha Leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the incident as “institutional betrayal” and demanded accountability 6. BJD’s Naveen Patnaik echoed the sentiment, saying it was a failure of the system itself.
Her Legacy: Voice for Women’s Safety
Villagers recalled her as compassionate and active during local disasters—especially floods—always helping others 7. Many believe she was mentally strong and would not have taken her own life if justice had been delivered. Her final act has now reignited demands for stronger harassment laws and reliable grievance redressal mechanisms in educational institutions.
Trivia & Quiz Highlights
Q: On which date did the student self-immolate on campus?
A: July 12, 2025.
Q: How much of her body was reportedly burned?
A: Approximately 95%.
Q: Which prominent political leader labelled her death as “institutional betrayal”?
A: Rahul Gandhi and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik.
Source: The Week