Protests, Politics Erupt In Odisha After Student Who Self-Immolated Over Harassment Dies

Last Updated:July 15, 2025, 13:47 IST

The Opposition parties, including the Congress, on Tuesday unitedly called for 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17 over the death of a 20-year-old student from Balasore.

Congress students' union, NSUI, demands justice for student who self-immolated herself. (Image: X/@nsui)

Amid the ongoing tensions in Odisha over the death of a 20-year-old female student from Balasore, the opposition parties, including the Congress, on Tuesday unitedly called for ’Odisha Bandh’ on July 17. The parties have also demanded the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation in connection to the case.

“Joint opposition has resolved that Odisha will be closed on July 17," CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The CPI(M) leader attacked the state government and state that the victim appealed to the Odisha government, the local MP and MLA, Principal, District Collector, SP and the Higher Education Minister of state and centre, but nothing happened.

“We demand a strict judicial investigation of the whole incident, the Higher Education Minister should resign, and some action should be taken against the local MLA and MP," he added.

The 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha’s Balasore, who had attempted self-immolation, died on Monday, confirmed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar.

The student set herself on fire after allegedly facing prolonged sexual harassment by her college’s Head of Department. Despite lodging a formal complaint and seeking help from the principal, her pleas were ignored, leading to the tragic incident.

Opposition Attacks Odisha Govt

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday called the death the student an “organised murder by the BJP’s system" and accusing the BJP-led state government of failing to protect the victim.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the student was subjected to repeated threats, torments and humiliation instead of receiving justice.

Taking to X, the Congress leader wrote, “The death of a daughter fighting for justice in Odisha is nothing less than a murder by the BJP’s system. That brave student raised her voice against sexual harassment, but instead of delivering justice, she was threatened, tormented, and repeatedly humiliated. Those who were supposed to protect her kept breaking her."

“As always, the BJP’s system continued to shield the accused and forced an innocent daughter to set herself on fire. This is not suicide; it is an organised murder by the system. Modi ji, whether in Odisha or Manipur, the daughters of the nation are burning, breaking, and dying. And you? You remain silent. The country doesn’t need your silence; it needs answers. India’s daughters need safety and justice," the post added.

Earlier in the day, the Congress workers staged a protest outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar following the death of the student. Police later detained the protesting workers.

(With agency inputs)

Odisha (Orissa), India, India

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