Woman student sets self afire over sexual harassment; principal suspended, teacher held

A woman student of a college in Odisha's Balasore district, who had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against a teacher, on Saturday allegedly set herself on fire in the educational institute campus and sustained 90 per cent burn injury, the police said.

Another male student, who attempted to save her, also sustained injury and both were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital here. Later, she was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. A 12-member doctors team has been formed to take care of the injured woman student, the police said.

The incident took place this afternoon after the woman student met the Principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, Dilip Kumar Ghose. She had earlier lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Samira Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor (Stage-l) in Educational Studies, who is also the head of the department and demanded action against him.

Taking a serious view of the self-immolation attempt by woman student, the Odisha government placed the college principal and the head of the Education Department, under suspension.

The Balaore police had arrested the accused teacher Samira Kumar Sahu, an officer said. Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited AIIMS-Bhubaneswar to inquire about the health of the woman student.

"The government is committed to taking stringent action in this matter," the minister said, adding a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted. "Further action will be taken based on the committee's report," he said.

Officials said the woman was a second-year student of the Integrated B.Ed programme in the college. She had also staged a protest on the college campus for a week demanding action against the teacher. Ghose said: "The student had come to me and wanted action against the teacher. I counselled her as she looked tense. She had lodged a complaint on June 30 and an internal complaint committee (ICC) inquiry was going on."