ABVP condemns ‘biased’ action of Odisha Police in Balasore self-immolation case

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Monday condemned the alleged biased actions of the Odisha Police in connection with the tragic self-immolation of college student and ABVP worker Soumyashree in Balasore.

The student organisation claimed that the late-night detention of two ABVP members, who attempted to save Soumyashree, points to a deliberate political conspiracy to shield influential individuals responsible for her harassment.

According to ABVP, Soumyashree’s extreme step was the result of prolonged mental harassment, including character assassination on social media, allegedly by the HoD and student leaders affiliated with the Congress and the BJD. Despite multiple complaints, her calls for justice were ignored by the administration, pushing her into a psychological crisis.

The ABVP has accused the Odisha Police of attempting to deflect blame from institutional and political failures by targeting those who tried to help the victim. “Shifting the blame of institutional and police failure in the Balasore self-immolation incident onto the students who tried to save the victim is a deeply rooted political conspiracy,” read a statement issued by the ABVP.

The organisation further stated that the attitude of the police raised serious concerns, particularly as no action had been taken against the individuals accused of harassing Soumyashree. Meanwhile, ABVP karyakartas, who reportedly suffered burn injuries while attempting to rescue her and were recently discharged from hospital, have been detained by the police.

ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki demanded a full investigation into both the incident and the prolonged harassment leading up to it. “The ABVP demands an impartial and comprehensive investigation into this entire matter. The investigation must not remain limited to the incident alone, but should also examine the long-standing mental and institutional harassment that forced Soumyashree to take such an extreme step. Strict and immediate action must be taken against those responsible for character assassination and mental torture, regardless of their designation or political affiliation, so that justice can be ensured for the victim and such incidents do not recur in the future.”

Kumari Deeptimayi Pratihari, ABVP’s Odisha Purva Prant Mantri, added, “ABVP is fully prepared to cooperate with the police in the investigation. However, if any attempt is made to harass ABVP karyakartas or falsely implicate innocent individuals, Vidyarthi Parishad will not remain silent. ABVP strongly opposes all efforts by Odisha Police to mentally and physically intimidate its karyakartas. ABVP is committed to fighting for justice for the victim, but if the police continue with their partisan approach, the Parishad will not tolerate it under any circumstance. Taking action against those who tried to save the victim is not only unjust but deeply unfortunate. If those who come forward to support victims are themselves branded as culprits, it will discourage people from standing up for justice in the future.”