A student of a leading government college in Odisha’s Balasore is battling for her life after she set herself on fire on the campus over alleged sexual harassment by a senior faculty member and inaction by the college authorities.
The woman is currently under treatment at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. Hospital sources said her condition is “extremely critical” as she has sustained over 90% burn injuries. A special team of doctors has been formed for her treatment.
The state has suspended the principal and the accused faculty member, while police have arrested the latter.
According to college students, the woman was staging a dharna, alleging that the head of her department had been sexually harassing her continuously. According to sources, she had submitted a complaint to the internal complaints committee, which allegedly failed to act.
College officials claimed the internal complaints committee submitted its report on July 9, but did not recommend anything regarding the alleged sexual harassment. The woman had also lodged a police complaint on July 1, but police did not act on it, sources said.
According to a student, the woman had claimed that the faculty member asked her for “undue and inappropriate favours” and threatened to destroy her academic future if she refused. She had also alleged that she was being stopped from attending classes.
On Saturday, she poured petrol and set herself ablaze on the campus. She was rushed to the Balasore district headquarters hospital and later shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. A few students who tried to douse the flames also sustained burn injuries.
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The state government, taking cognisance of the matter, has suspended the college principal and the accused teacher, based on “prima facie evidence in the matter”, according to separate orders issued by the higher education department.
It said the principal “has failed to perform his duties”.
The police have arrested the accused faculty member following the incident and sent him to judicial custody. Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said a special team has been formed to probe the matter.
The state’s higher education minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, said a committee has been formed comprising senior officials and academicians to probe the alleged negligence by the college authorities.
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Asked why police did not act on her complaint earlier, the Balasore SP said the woman lodged a complaint with the internal complaints committee on June 30 and then approached the police.
“We followed up the matter with the internal complaints committee, which said they will submit a report within five days. When it didn’t come in five days, we have asked them again. The committee said they will submit it as soon as possible. We are now verifying the proceedings of the committee and their inquiry status,” said Prasad.
