Balasore student's self-immolation: BJD takes protest to streets; Rahul Gandhi speaks to victim's father, assures justice

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke with the father of the Odisha college student who self-immolated because of alleged sexual harassment from her college professor on Wednesday

The Congress leader ensured justice for the victim's family and labelled the actions leading to the student's death as a "wound to the entire society". He assured that the party would stand with the family.

Ghandi posted on X saying, “Spoke with the father of the brave daughter who lost her life in the fight for justice in Balasore, Odisha. In his voice, I felt his daughter's pain, dreams, and struggle. Assured him that the Congress Party and I stand with them at every step. What happened is not only inhuman and shameful but a wound to the entire society.” He added that they would ensure in every way that the victim's family receives full justice. 

 

Father of the victim claims daughter was killed

Earlier, the father of the student had called her death a conspiracy and said that his daughter was killed because she raised her voice in college. "This was a plot against my daughter. She always raised her voice in college, so they targeted her. Everyone forced her to die. Is this not murder? They forced her to attempt suicide. Why was she called alone to meet in the principal’s room? What happened inside that room? Why were we not informed?" he said to ANI.

The family had asked for a probe into why the victim was made to meet the accused, the principal and the internal committee behind closed doors and what took place right before she walked out to attempt self-immolation

BJD workers stage protest, police use tear gas

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) called for a Balasore Bandh on Wednesday and took to the streets to protest against the Odisha government after the 20-year-old girl set herself on fire outside the principal’s office in Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College.

Party workers burned tyres on the streets and expressed their anger over the government's “inaction.” The protest escalated, which prompted police to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

The party had also asked for the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

BJD Vice-President Debi Prasad Mishra demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, stating, “We demand the government come out of its slumber and take action by ordering a judicial inquiry. Those who took no action should take moral responsibility and resign."  

The party workers have vowed to intensify the protests if their demands are not met. 

The second-year student died on July 14 after sustaining 95 per cent burns in AIIMS Bhubaneswar. She had been protesting since early July and had written a letter of complaint that asked the college authorities to take action against the sexual harassment, but received no support from them.

The BJP-led Odisha government has been under scrutiny after the incident triggered widespread outrage in the state. 

India