Odisha horror: The story of 20-yr-old who self-immolated and died after sexual harassment by a professor

A 20‑year‑old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, tragically passed away on July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, just three days after setting herself on fire.

According to medical reports, she suffered nearly 95 per cent burns in a dire protest over inaction on her sexual harassment complaint against a college professor.

The incident took place on July 12, when she attempted self-immolation outside her college principal’s office. She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was placed on mechanical ventilation and given IV fluids, antibiotics, and kidney support.

Despite the best efforts from the medical team, she passed away late on July 14. “She was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM,” the hospital confirmed.

Unable to bear the frustration and emotional toll any longer, the woman attempted self-immolation outside the principal’s office on July 12.

She received all possible intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, IV support, antibiotics, and renal therapy, but succumbed to her injuries late on July 14. “She was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM on July 14,” the hospital confirmed.

Her death has sparked widespread outrage and grief across Odisha, with mounting pressure on authorities to take strict action. The state government has promised accountability. Here’s what we know so far about the incident.

What led to the tragedy?

The victim, a second-year B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, had reportedly been battling mental distress for weeks before she set herself on fire.

Her classmates allege that the torment came from Sameer Kumar Sahoo, the head of the Integrated B.Ed department, who had been sexually harassing her.

According to fellow students, Sahoo repeatedly asked for sexual favours and threatened to sabotage her academic future if she didn’t give in.

Despite the student filing formal complaints with both the college principal and the local police, no significant action was taken. Although an internal committee was set up to look into her claims, students said it barely made any headway.

In a letter dated July 1, addressed to the college’s Internal Complaints Committee and accessed by NDTV, she described her ordeal and urged the authorities to form a disciplinary panel to take action against Sahoo.

“I have lost my mental peace and attempted suicide. In the future, if the college authority does not take any action, I will commit suicide, and the HoD and the college authority will be responsible,” she wrote in the letter.

On July 12, she joined other students in a protest outside the college gates. According to the fellow students, amid the protest, the girl suddenly got up, ran to the area close to the principal’s office, and set herself on fire. A male student who rushed to help her also sustained burn injuries.

The victim was then rushed to Balasore Hospital and then referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.  

The horrifying incident was captured on CCTV and sparked immediate public outrage. Soon after, assistant professor Sameer Kumar Sahoo was arrested, and college principal Dilip Ghosh, initially suspended, was also taken into custody.

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | The BJD workers stage a protest as the mortal remains of Balasore student self-immolation case victim taken to the postmortem centre of AIIMS. pic.twitter.com/jowuScgREN

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2025

‘I could not recognise my daughter’

The student’s father, speaking to NDTV, shared the devastating reality of her condition before she passed away. He said that 95 per cent of her body had suffered severe burns, and she was kept on life support until her death on July 14.

“I went to see her today. I cannot recognise my daughter,” he said on Monday.

He also claimed that the college’s Internal Complaints Committee, along with the principal, had pressured them to drop the case. “They told me that if we didn’t withdraw, an FIR would be filed against me. They said I would be arrested,” he alleged.

The family is now demanding justice. Her father has called for the “harshest punishment” for those responsible, while her brother has said he is prepared to “go to any length” to ensure justice is served.

Her body was brought back to her native village on Tuesday in Palasia, Balasore, for the final rites.

CM Manjhi vows action, President Murmu meets victim’s family

In the wake of widespread anger and protests, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi responded with a strong statement, expressing his condolences and assuring action.

“I pray for the eternal peace of her departed soul. May Lord Jagannath grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss. I assure the family of the dead student that all those guilty in this case will face the strictest punishment as per the law,” he wrote in a post on X.

He added that he had personally directed officials to take necessary action and that the state government stands with the grieving family. Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to meet the student’s family, expressing solidarity.

A day earlier, President Droupadi Murmu, along with CM Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, had also visited the burn unit at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

#WATCH | Odisha | Balasore student self-immolation case: President Droupadi Murmu visits AIIMS Bhubaneswar to meet the victim student. pic.twitter.com/T7Mag15ujc

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2025

The President held discussions with the doctors about the girl’s condition and enquired about the additional steps needed for her treatment,” Asutosh Biswas, executive director of the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, was quoted as saying in The Hindu. 

Meanwhile, opposition parties, the BJD and Congress, have been staging protests and holding the BJP-led state government accountable. Both parties said the student was forced to take the extreme step because the system failed to protect her.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also stepped in, asking the Odisha government for a detailed report on the case.

With input from agencies