Odisha Principal Arrested: The principal of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College has been arrested in the case of a 22 -year -old student on fire by a 22 -year -old student in Balasore district of Odisha. On July 1, the student made serious allegations of sexual harassment on a college professor. He had written a long letter and mentioned the harassment and threats that have been happening for several months.

However, according to the student, the college administration and police did not take any action. 11 days later, he set himself on fire in the college campus itself. The student has been admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she has burnt more than 90 percent and is struggling for life. After this incident, political disputes, protests of student organizations and demand for accountability in educational institutions have intensified. In view of the seriousness of the case, the administration has now arrested the principal for negligence and ignoring complaints.

Complaint of sexual harassment, still the college administration remained silent
B.Ed of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore district of Odisha. On July 1, a student of the student had submitted a written complaint of sexual harassment and threats against his head of department Professor Sameer Kumar Sahu to the college’s internal complaint committee.

The student wrote a long letter, in which she told how her mental and physical harassment has been happening for several months. This letter was also shared by the student on the social stage, in which the Chief Minister of the state, education minister and senior officials were addressed.

Self -immolation after 12 days, condition serious
The college administration had told the student that action will be taken in seven days. But even after the twelve days, when no steps were taken, the student set fire to the main gate of the college on July 11 and sprinkled kerosene on her by spraying kerosene. He is currently on a life -saving system in the hospital in Bhubaneswar. According to doctors, 95 percent of his body has been burnt. Another student who tried to save him has suffered 70 percent burning injuries and is also undergoing treatment.

Principal and accused teacher suspended
After the incident, the police have arrested Professor Sameer Sahu. The Higher Education Department has suspended Professor Sahu as well as the principal of the college Dilip Ghosh. State Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj said that whoever is found guilty will be taken strict action. District Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said that the teacher has been arrested. Many parties are gathering evidence and whoever is guilty will be punished.

The student asked for help before the incident
Principal Dilip Ghosh told that on the day of the incident, the student had come to meet him and said that he is under mental pressure. He had requested that teacher Sahu be called, which was called by the principal immediately. A terrible scene of this incident has come out in which the student is seen running in the corridor of the college building in the flames.
A person tries to save him, but when his clothes start burning, he retreats. After this, other people run and try to extinguish the fire.

Family accused of pressurizing
The student’s father said that the college administration had pressurized his daughter and family to withdraw the complaint. He says, “I was told that if the complaint is not removed, a case will be registered against me and I will be arrested.” He said, “I saw my daughter in the hospital. I could not even recognize her.”

Demand to meet president
Regarding this incident, Biju Janata Dal and Congress have written a letter to President Draupadi Murmu seeking time to meet him. The President is on a visit to Odisha these days.

A student of a college in Balasore district of Odisha lost to sexual harassment on Saturday (July 12, 2025) and set herself on fire in the educational institution campus. In this incident, the student has burnt up to 90 percent, the police gave this information.

Police said that the student had lodged a complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher. He told that another student who tried to save the student has also been scorched and both have been taken to the district headquarters hospital. Later, the student was referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhubaneswar for better treatment.

The student had demanded action in the case

According to the police, the incident happened on Saturday afternoon when the victim student met Dilip Ghosh, Principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. He had earlier filed a complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher, who is also the head of the department and demanded action in the case.

Officials said that the victim is a second year student of integrated B.Ed course in the college. He also staged a sit -in in the college campus for a week to demand action against the teacher.

Complaint was lodged on June 30

Principal Dilip Ghosh said, ‘The student came to me and wanted action against the teacher. She was seen under stress, so I counseling her. He lodged a complaint on 30 June. Currently, the Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) is under investigation.

An official said that the police have taken the accused teacher into custody at Sahadevkhunta police station in Balasore city. He informed that Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad and a scientific team are investigating the case on the spot.

The victim’s friends gave this information

Meanwhile, Balasore MLA Manas Dutta, who visited the hospital, said, ‘The condition of the student is critical. Our first priority is to save his life. According to the victim’s friends, the student was under severe mental stress for the last several days due to alleged harassment from the head of the department. His friends said that the pain of the victim increased further when neither the college administration nor the police took any action against the accused teacher.

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