Tragic Death of a Student at Fakir Mohan College Sparks Outrage Over Alleged Sexual Harassment and Systemic Neglect

A 20-year-old second-year B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, tragically died after setting herself on fire on campus, accusing the Head of the Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu, of sexual harassment. She suffered 95% burns, was treated at Balasore hospital and later AIIMS Bhubaneswar, but sadly didn’t survive.

Her death sparked huge outrage. Opposition parties like BJD and Congress called it an “institutional betrayal,” criticizing the college and state for ignoring her complaints. Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, promised a strict probe and ₹20 lakh compensation to the family.

Congress has called a statewide bandh on July 17, joined by eight parties, protesting what they see as a failed justice system. Rahul Gandhi slammed the incident as an “organised murder by the system,” accusing officials of shielding the accused and repeatedly harassing the student instead of delivering justice.

BJD’s Naveen Patnaik called it a “planned injustice,” pointing out she had reported the harassment to multiple authorities but was ignored. He urged the Governor to hold both the accused and negligent officials accountable.

On the flip side, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan condemned Rahul Gandhi’s comments as politicizing the tragedy and stressed women’s welfare remains a top priority for the BJP government.

This heartbreaking case exposes glaring failures in addressing sexual harassment, raising urgent questions about institutional accountability, women’s safety, and justice in our education system.

Q/A-

How do you balance raising awareness of such incidents while respecting the privacy and dignity of victims and their families?

What are your thoughts on the adequacy of punishments and compensation in such cases? Is ₹20 lakh enough for a life lost this tragically?

What systemic changes do you think are most urgent in educational institutions to prevent harassment and ensure victims get timely justice?

How can students, families, and communities better support victims of harassment and mental health crises triggered by institutional neglect?

Legal Steps and Actions to Be Taken:-

1. Filing an FIR (First Information Report)
   Sexual harassment is a criminal offense under Indian law (IPC Sections 354A, 509). The victim’s family should file an FIR with the police to trigger a formal investigation.
   
   

2. Complaint to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)
   Every educational institution must have an ICC under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The student should have lodged a complaint there for a proper inquiry.
   
   

3. Approach Women’s Commissions
   State or National Women’s Commissions can be approached if institutions fail to act. They can intervene, investigate, and recommend actions.
   
   

4. Legal Aid and Support
   Free legal assistance is available through government bodies like District Legal Services Authorities. Counseling and protection orders can also be sought.
   
   

5. Investigation and Prosecution
   After FIR registration, the police must investigate and prosecute the accused promptly under relevant laws.
   
   

6. Action Against Negligent Authorities
   Officials who ignored or suppressed complaints can be held accountable through departmental or legal proceedings.
   
   

7. Compensation and Victim Support
   The victim’s family is entitled to compensation under the Victim Compensation Scheme and government announcements, as well as support for medical and legal expenses.