In Odisha, a huge political tempest has risen following the few days old death of a 20-year-old college girl who self-immolated after claiming to have been sexually harassed by a professor in Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in the Balasore district. According to reports, the student arrived at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar on July 12, after suffering 95 per cent burn injuries. The student was in the hospital since then, but in late Monday night, the student succumbed to the injuries she suffered. Her death has aroused massive anger across the state, and at least eight different political parties led by Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are conducting an Odisha bandh.
The protests got severe at the AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where political workers were present in huge numbers, and they are accusing the state government of trying to hide the incident. Leaders of both Congress and BJD called to hold people accountable and take necessary measures against them, with the immediate removal of the Higher Education Minister of Odisha, Suryabanshi Suraj.
BJD leader Sulata Deo faulted the authorities on the suspicious timing of the postmortem. “Why did it have to be middle of the night? She wondered whether it was the suppression of facts and out of public scrutiny. Deo also indicated that a BJD team had met President Droupadi Murmu and requested her personal intervention. The President was very worried when she heard of this case.” She then added, “It is heartbreaking that these atrocities are occurring in our educational facilities.”
Similar sentiments were seen by the Congress leader Yashir Nawaz, who accused the government and the police of attempting to carry out a postmortem at 2 a.m. when no one would be willing to come out and protest against this move. Meanwhile, BJD President Snehangini Chhuria criticised the ruling BJP in Odisha, saying, “The brand Beti Bachao Beti Padhao has become Beti Padhao Beti Jalao, under this regime.”
The horror has brought together opposing forces in a welcome display of unity, with all calling for justice for the student and reformation of the system of dealing with harassment complaints in schools and colleges.
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