A delegation of Congress MLAs, led by Congress Legislature Party Leader Rama Chandra Kadam, visited AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday evening to meet a female student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, who attempted self-immolation and is battling for her life with 95% burns.
The incident has sparked outrage, with the Congress accusing the Odisha state government of failing to ensure women’s safety, leading to the student’s desperate act.
Kadam criticised the government’s inaction, stating that repeated demands in the Odisha Assembly for a House Committee to address women’s safety were ignored, resulting in the suspension of Congress MLAs. “Had the government taken our demands seriously, this student might not have been driven to such an extreme step,” Kadam said, holding the state government fully responsible for the tragedy. He pointed to the rising incidents of crimes against women as evidence of the government’s “callous attitude.”
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous, who accompanied the delegation, revealed that the student had reported harassment 20 days prior and filed a written complaint on July 1. However, the college principal, police administration, and local MP allegedly failed to act, with attempts made to suppress the issue. “This negligence forced the student into this dire situation,” Firdous said, demanding the immediate resignation of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
Deeply disturbing.
A girl from FM College, Balasore attempted self-immolation and is now battling for her life. The authorities were aware of the sexual favours sought by the professor and the ongoing harassment, but failed to act in time to protect her or deliver justice.I…
— Sofia Firdous (@sofiafirdous1) July 12, 2025
न्याय व्यवस्था से दु:खी होकर बालासोर की जिस बेटी ने आत्मदाह का प्रयास किया वह आरएसएस – बीजेपी के छात्र संगठन एबीवीपी की पदाधिकारी है। न्याय के लिए ट्वीट्स, संघर्ष, धरना उसने सब जतन किए, गुहार लगाया लेकिन सरकार नींद से नहीं जगी। यह ओडिशा का हाल है। आज भुवनेश्वर एम्स में वे जिंदगी… https://t.co/2btZcx4dpU pic.twitter.com/HkCqWogy9p
— Ajay Kumar Lallu (@AjayLalluINC) July 12, 2025
In response, the state government has suspended the college principal and the head of the concerned department, while the accused assistant professor has been arrested. Minister Suraj also visited AIIMS to inquire about the student’s condition, but the opposition remains unrelenting in its criticism.
The incident has reignited debates over women’s safety in educational institutions, with Congress accusing the government of systemic failures.
As the student fights for her life, the opposition’s call for accountability grows louder, urging immediate reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future.
