Justice for Soumyashree: BJD, Congress, DSO Unite in Street Protests

Public anger is on the rise in Balasore following the alleged torture and suicide attempt of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College student Soumyashree Bishi.

Massive demonstrations erupted across the district as political youth wings—including BJD Youth, Student Congress, and the Democratic Students’ Organisation (DSO)—demanded immediate justice.

Protesters assembled outside Fakir Mohan College, burning effigies of Odisha Chief Minister, Union Higher Education Minister, MP Pratap Sarangi, MLA Manas Dutta, and Principal Dilip Kumar Ghosh. Tires were set ablaze to block roads, and shouts demanding the resignation of the education ministers echoed through the crowd.

Soumyashree is currently on ventilator support at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Her condition remains critical, and she has undergone dialysis treatments twice, according to hospital authorities.

Her brother alleged a long-term conspiracy, claiming that she faced continuous mental torture for six months. Despite raising formal complaints, he says she was pressured to withdraw them. He named the college principal and a faculty member as central figures in the alleged abuse, calling for their immediate arrest.

Youth leaders like Ranjan Das and Saroj Lenka led demonstrations at the Collector’s office, while DSO Prashant Das spearheaded further protests. A formal memorandum has been submitted to the DIG demanding a judicial inquiry and accountability from the administration.

The case has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha, with student groups vowing to continue protests until justice is delivered.