Naveen Patnaik Condemns Systemic Failure in Balasore Student’s Tragic Death

Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik has expressed profound grief and outrage over the death of Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old BEd student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who succumbed to 95% burn injuries on July 14, 2025, at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

The student had set herself on fire on July 12 outside the college principal’s office, protesting alleged sexual harassment by Samir Kumar Sahu, the Head of the Education Department, and the institution’s failure to act on her complaints.

ଏମ୍ସରେ ଚିକିତ୍ସିତ ହେଉଥିବା ବାଲେଶ୍ୱର ଏଫଏମ କଲେଜ ପୀଡ଼ିତା ଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ। ଏପରି ସମୟକୁ ସାମ୍ନା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ପରିବାର ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଅସୀମ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ।

ମନକୁ ଏହା ଅଧିକ ବିଚଳିତ କରୁଛି ଯେ, କିପରି ଗୋଟେ ବିଫଳ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ଜଣଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ନେଇଯାଇପାରେ। ସବୁଠୁ କଷ୍ଟଦାୟକ ହେଉଛି,…

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 15, 2025

In a heartfelt post on X, Patnaik described the incident as a “grim reminder” of institutional apathy, stating, “This tragic incident lays bare the stark reality of how she was denied justice, despite repeatedly voicing her grievances from the College Principal to the Higher Education Minister and right up to Union Minister and the Chief Minister.” He highlighted the student’s desperate attempts to seek help, including written complaints to the college principal, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Higher Education Minister, the Chief Minister’s office, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as a personal meeting with Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi. Despite these efforts, no action was taken, pushing Soumyashree to take the extreme step.

Patnaik urged Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who serves as the Chancellor of state-run universities, to intervene and ensure accountability for those who failed to act. “I urge the Honourable Governor to ensure that not only the college authorities but also those in power, who failed to take any action despite the victim’s desperate pleas, are held accountable,” he wrote, praying to Lord Jagannath for the departed soul’s eternal peace and strength for her family.

The incident has triggered widespread protests across Balasore and Bhubaneswar, with BJD and Congress demanding a judicial probe. The accused professor, Samir Kumar Sahu, was arrested on July 12, and the college principal, Dillip Kumar Ghosh, was suspended and arrested on July 14 for abetting suicide.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief and promised “strict punishment” for the guilty, while the Higher Education Department mandated all colleges to form ICs within 24 hours under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.

Patnaik’s call for justice has resonated with many, amplifying demands for systemic reforms to protect students and ensure prompt action on harassment complaints.

As Odisha mourns Soumyashree’s loss, her tragic death underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform in educational institutions.