By Mr TPM | July 13, 2025 | Bhubaneswar
A horrifying incident in Odisha’s Balasore district has sparked a national conversation on institutional negligence and gender justice after a 21-year-old undergraduate student attempted self-immolation outside her college campus, following months of inaction on a sexual assault complaint against a professor.
The student, a second-year BA student at Kalinga Women’s College, suffered over 80% burns and is currently battling for her life in the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Doctors have described her condition as "extremely critical."
This tragic case has ignited protests, widespread public anger, and renewed scrutiny of how colleges and law enforcement in India handle complaints of sexual harassment and assault—particularly those made by students against people in positions of power.
Background: Complaint Ignored, Family Alleges Cover-Up
According to the student’s family, she had filed a written complaint with the college principal in April 2025, alleging that a senior professor of political science had sexually assaulted her during a tutorial session. The student also allegedly provided text messages and audio recordings supporting her claim.
“We begged the administration to take action, but they kept telling us to ‘wait for an internal inquiry,’” said the student’s father, who works as a local shopkeeper. “They protected him because he’s influential.”
The family claims that after submitting the complaint, the student faced harassment, isolation from faculty, and was reportedly threatened with expulsion for “tarnishing the image of the college.”
She had reportedly attempted to approach the police, but no formal FIR was registered. A senior local police official has since admitted that the complaint was “under preliminary review”, a response critics say shows blatant disregard for urgency in such serious allegations.
The Attempted Self-Immolation
On the morning of July 11, the student arrived outside the college gate with a bottle of kerosene and a handwritten letter. Witnesses say she poured the fuel over herself and set herself on fire, screaming about injustice and humiliation before collapsing on the ground.
Passersby and students rushed to extinguish the flames and called an ambulance. She was initially admitted to Balasore District Hospital before being transferred to SCB Medical in Cuttack due to the severity of her injuries.
The letter recovered from her bag reportedly names the professor, details the inaction of the college authorities, and ends with a haunting line: “Maybe now someone will listen.”
Public Outrage and Protests
The incident has led to massive student-led protests across Odisha, particularly in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Balasore, with demonstrators demanding the immediate arrest of the accused professor, suspension of the college principal, and an independent probe into the case.
The Odisha Women’s Commission, student unions, and civil society organizations have condemned the college’s “criminal apathy” and called for systemic reforms in how educational institutions deal with complaints of sexual misconduct.
“This is not just about one girl. This is about the failure of a system that chooses silence over justice,” said Sneha Rath, president of the Odisha Students’ Collective, during a protest at the state capital.
Government Response
Under mounting pressure, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik issued a statement calling the incident “deeply disturbing” and promising strict action against those found guilty of negligence.
“There will be zero tolerance for any failure in handling such sensitive complaints. A high-level inquiry has been ordered,” he said.
By Sunday evening, the college principal was suspended, and the accused professor was detained for questioning. A special team from the Crime Branch has been assigned to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The Higher Education Department has also ordered all government and private colleges to review their internal complaints mechanisms and submit reports on pending harassment cases within 15 days.
Legal and Systemic Questions
Legal experts and activists say this tragedy is yet another reminder that the Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) set up under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013) are often non-functional, biased, or nonexistent in smaller educational institutions.
“In many colleges, the ICC is either filled with staff loyal to the administration or simply doesn’t function,” said Adv. Meera Banerjee, a gender rights lawyer. “The law exists, but enforcement is virtually absent.”
Calls are growing louder for external oversight, psychological counseling in campuses, and awareness programs to empower students to report harassment without fear of retaliation.
A Nation Reflects
As the student lies unconscious in a hospital bed, fighting for survival, India faces tough questions about how institutions treat survivors of abuse — and what it takes for a young woman’s voice to be heard.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case and plans to visit the college next week. The Supreme Court Bar Association has also demanded an independent judicial inquiry.
In towns and cities across the country, candles have been lit in solidarity, and her name is trending on social media with the hashtag #JusticeForOdishaStudent.
Whether this moment becomes a turning point or another forgotten tragedy remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — the silence that drove her to such desperation can no longer be ignored.
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