Odisha student’s death sparks protests
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday organised a condolence meeting at Delhi University, demanding swift and strict action in connection with the death of a 20-year-old student who set herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment by a professor at her college.
The victim succumbed to her injuries on July 14 at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
Calling for an immediate judicial inquiry, ABVP held the college administration accountable, asserting that timely intervention might have prevented the loss of such a promising student.
“She was not just a student; she was the voice of the entire student community. When a young student is forced to commit self-immolation due to mental and physical torture, it is a wake-up call for the entire education system,” said ABVP national secretary Shivangi Kharwal.
ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma added, “We have lost a brave and committed activist who gave her life fighting academic oppression. The ABVP demands that the state government immediately suspend Sameer Sahu and initiate a judicial inquiry.”
The organisation also warned of a nationwide movement if swift action is not taken. Scores of DU students participated in the meeting and paid tribute to the victim by lighting candles in her memory.
Meanwhile, The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Congress Party’s student wing, on Tuesday staged protest in front of Odisha Bhawan demanding justice for the student of FM College, Balasore, who set herself afire after facing alleged sexual harassment by a professor of the institution.
In view of the protest, adequate police deployment was made in front of the protesting site and several NSUI members were detained as a precautionary measure and were later released by the police. During the protest, the organisation members were seen wearing white t-shirt similar to those worn by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in what they claim is a symbol to fight injustice.
“This is not suicide, this is murder by the BJP-ABVP nexus. The NSUI will not rest until justice is served,” said NSUI Delhi president Ashish Lamba, who was leading the demonstration.
Before the protests, NSUI national president Varun Choudhary released a statement on the tragic incident terming it as an ‘institutional murder’.
“We demand immediate arrest and prosecution of the accused faculty member, an independent judicial probe into the role of college authorities and administrative cover-up, suspension of officials and staff who ignored the victim’s repeated complaints and accountability from the Odisha Government that allowed this injustice,” the statement read.
Delhi